Page:Personal beauty how to cultivate and preserve it in accordance with the laws of health (1870).djvu/132

 complaint, and prevents the red mark from remaining so long as it otherwise would.

Sores of any kind about the lips are almost as disagreeable to one's companions as to one's self. The perfumed oxide of zinc ointment mentioned above will be found of real value in most of them. The lower lip is a favorite seat of one of the varieties of cancer, and then must either be treated by subcutaneous injections, with which we have witnessed at least one most admirable cure; or else the lip has to be removed by the knife. The former method should always be tried first, as in case of success the face is much less disfigured.

While upon this subject we wish to impress upon our readers the imprudence and dangers they run in using cups, tumblers, towels, or anything which others have used, without a thorough washing. Diseases of the most disgusting and frightful character have been often contracted by so doing. Nor should they ever allow themselves to be kissed by acquaintances in whom they have not the fullest confidence. There is related in a recent medical periodical, the story of a young lady of Pennsylvania, who, from the innocent kiss of a young gentleman at a picnic, became the victim of the most hideous disease, perhaps, known to medicine. Let her case be a warning to all others to reserve this favor for the dearest and the most worthy only.