Part 4

If a person is sensitive to paraphenylene-diamine, his scalp and face will begin to tingle and itch after its application, and this will be followed, in from 10 to 12 hours, by a swelling and blistering of the skin. The eyelids also may swell to such an extent that the person is unable to see.

Most of the cosmetic establishments use this dye for their work. The treatment given by most physicians consists in wet dressings of boric acid solutions and in small doses of X-ray to the region concerned. Following the subsidence of the preliminary symptoms, soothing creams are applied to the tissues. Dr. McCafferty points out that every substance used as a dye remover is a dangerous poison, which, if it does not injure the person using it, at least makes the hair extremely brittle. It is his belief that dye removers should be legislated out of the beauty shops.

SKIN ERUPTIONS LAID TO POISON IN DYED FUR

Every winter physicians who specialize in diseases of the skin are asked to see cases of eruptions around the throat and wrists resulting from poisoning with incompletely or improperly dyed furs.

The principal symptoms are blotches and swelling with itching and burning, so severe in some cases that the person cannot sleep at night.

Rabbit Becomes Beaver.--The trouble is found in most instances to result from rabbit that is dyed to imitate beaver, although all sorts of furs may be involved.

In these cases the poisonous substance is usually a compound of paraphenylene-diamine, the same poisonous substance that causes irritation of the scalps of those who attempt to dye gray hair black.

Many foreign nations have introduced laws to prevent the use of this substance in hair dyes and to regulate the fur-dying industry. Similar laws have been passed in some of our states, but there is as yet no nation-wide regulation regarding the use of this substance.

Investigate Cases.--Not all persons are equally sensitive to this dye. Some may wear furs dyed in this manner without symptoms, but those who are sensitive develop severe reactions.

Several investigative committees are attempting to secure a record of all the cases of this type that occur.

If anyone knows of such an instance, the report may be sent to the Committee on Dye Poisoning of the American Medical Association, 535 N. Dearborn Street, Chicago.

MOST MOLES HARMLESS, BUT WATCH BLACK ONES!

It has been estimated that there are five moles on an average on every person in the city of Chicago.

If all of these were to be removed, it would require more than 15,000,000 separate surgical operations.

The history of moles would be an extremely interesting topic, since they were long regarded as of great significance--sometimes considered the work of evil spirits; sometimes thought to be due to the influence of the moon or the stars, and occasionally thought to be of importance in determining configuration of the body.

Superstition.--Charts of moles were prepared so that one might tell by observation of those that were visible where to expect others that might be invisible. Needless to say, all of this was superstitious and without the slightest scientific importance.

As long as a mole does not disfigure the appearance, it is best disregarded, unless under certain circumstances it becomes irritated and subject to the unusually rapid growth that is characteristic of cancer.

If a mole is extremely brown or black, it has in it an unusual amount of a pigment called melanin, which is responsible for giving the color to the hair, the eyes, and the deeper layers of skin.

Somehow, the presence of this substance seems to be associated with dangerous possibilities, so that a severe injury or irritation of a deeply pigmented mole may cause it to suddenly develop rapid growth.

Watch Black Ones.--The most dangerous moles are those that are jet black. If these are situated where they are constantly rubbed or irritated by collars, garters, shoes or other garments, they should be most carefully watched.

The danger signs have been listed by some doctors as: (1) a gradual increase in the size of the mole; (2) deepening or spreading of the color; (3) ulceration or infection; (4) pain or soreness in the mole.

If any of these symptoms appear, the person concerned should promptly consult a physician. If they do not appear, the mole should be left alone and not teased by irritation, rubbing, picking, scratching, or half-hearted attempts at its removal.

FLOWERS CARRY POISON

Some persons are especially sensitive to contact with toxic substances derived from plants. The poison ivy, oak, and sumac may cause severe eruptions of the skin in persons susceptible.

When mah-jong first became popular, many persons had eruptions of the fingers and of the skin of the face from contact with the lacquer on the mah-jong boxes, due to a special sensitivity that they possessed to a poison in the lacquer which it was discovered had been made by utilizing the juices of certain Japanese plants.

Handling of Bulbs.--Now a British physician has discovered eruptions on the hands of some persons from the handling of flower bulbs, and has given the name “lily rash” to this type of disturbance.

It followed the cutting of the stems of the flowers, chiefly the narcissus, and from handling bulbs of the hyacinth, daffodil, narcissus and tulip.

An investigation was made in several establishments devoted to the sale of bulbs, and a small proportion of packers and sorters of bulbs were found to be suffering from an eruption extending under the nail, where splitting of the skin caused considerable pain.