Page:Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, volume 1.djvu/302

274 unless carefully used unpleasant absorption may take place.

My usual line of treatment is as follows:—

Very Mild Cases.—A resorcin salicylic ointment applied twice daily.

Cases of Medium Gravity.—In such instances I use a chrysarobin ointment. In more obstinate cases I use local applications of turpentine oil in the morning, and at night a resorcin salicylic ointment. If the parts are much inflamed, at night simply a boric ointment or pack. This treatment gives good results. Turpentine is generally well borne, but patients often complain of a smarting and burning sensation, a quarter or half an hour after the application. Exceptionally one meets with patients who cannot stand turpentine.

Severe Chronic Gases.—In such cases I have found out, after many experiments, that the best treatment is that which I have introduced for Tinea imbricata, viz., resorcin dissolved in Tr. benzoin Co, to be applied once daily for several days. After some days the skin peels off and the eruption is generally healed. The only drawback to this treatment is that the medicine is very sticky, but it does not smart, and is generally well borne.

Cases Complicated with Eczematous Dermatitis and Fissures.—In such cases one is apt to use a soothing treatment by pastes, lead lotions, etc., with the idea to heal first the eczematous lesions. In my experience, however, when the microscopical examination has shown the presence of the fungus, it is best, as a rule, to start an energetic anti-trichophytic treatment at once. To the fissures which so often develop in the inguinal regions, I apply a solution of nitrate of silver. I touch with this solution the fissures and all the moist parts; this application is somewhat painful, but the pain soon disappears, and the itching is relieved almost immediately. At night I apply a resorcin and sali-