Page:Personal beauty how to cultivate and preserve it in accordance with the laws of health (1870).djvu/246

 containing these substances applied. This is painful and only succeeds in mild cases.

Many years ago two French surgeons, MM. Lepeyre and Lecomte, observed that the rays of the sun, concentrated by a lens or burning-glass, exert a peculiar and propitious effect on certain cutaneous diseases. The chemical properties of sunlight, they thought, must have something to do with this, and they called the attention of the profession to their observations. Like many other useful discoveries, however, the process was suffered to lapse almost into forgetfulness. Within the past few years it has been revived, chiefly by the exertions of a person not a member of the profession, and even more has been claimed for it than it is rightfully entitled to.

There is no doubt but that it is the most efficacious means yet devised to destroy these red birth-marks, but it requires no little practice and judgment to obtain favorable results. The heat must be so adjusted as to shrivel the vessels in the true skin without destroying the skin itself, as otherwise a scar will result. We have employed these glasses in several instances, and are convinced that they are a most important addition to our means to combat these trying disfigurements.

INDIA-INK OR TATTOO MARKS.

Girls are wiser than boys.

If we want a proof of it, see how many urchins mar