Part 5

The longer the nails were worn, the more severe was the condition. Moreover, the inflammation of the skin, which occurred after a few days’ work in handling the bulbs, was progressive until the worker began to use gloves.

All the workers were inclined to blame the tulip bulbs. Some of the observers thought that the eruptions were due to friction from the rough sides of the bulbs, and were ready to place the responsibility on the hyacinth, narcissus and daffodil.

An investigation showed, however, that the tulip bulb is surrounded with a single layered covering which spreads easily and that it holds a somewhat acrid juice. When this juice was applied to the skin underneath the finger nail it promptly produced irritation, even without any breaking of the skin due to rubbing.

The obvious suggestion is that persons who are likely to handle tulip bulbs in any considerable numbers ought to wear protective gloves.

SNOW OR COLD WATER BEST IN TREATING FROSTBITE

When a portion of the body not properly protected is exposed to intense or extreme cold, the tissues become affected. If the cold is sufficiently intense and the exposure is sufficiently prolonged, the part becomes frozen.

When the circulation of the blood is sluggish, as in the very young, the old and the sick, suffering from cold is likely to be more severe.

In the same way those parts of the body in which the circulation is least active, and which are least protected by clothing, as the ears, the hands and the feet, are most likely to be affected.

Blisters May Form.--In mild frostbite there usually is merely tingling and slight pain. If the cold is more intense and the exposure more prolonged, blisters form with serum or blood inside of them.

If the freezing is still further prolonged, the entire part becomes gangrenous because of the congealing of the blood within. Then the tissues appear bluish, shrunken or wrinkled and are without sensation or the power of motion.

The best treatment for frostbite at first is friction with snow or cold water in a cold room, the changes to a warmer atmosphere being brought about gradually.

After the friction the feet or hands should be swathed in cotton-wool held in position by loose bandages. If there are blisters or any discolorations of the tissues, a physician should be seen promptly.

On the speed with which proper treatment is given may depend the saving or loss of a limb.

Chilblains.--Chilblains, which also are associated with a sluggish circulation, usually produce burning heat with itching and redness, and are likely to follow prolonged exposure to cold combined with dampness.

They may be prevented by wearing warm, loose woolen stockings and warm shoes. The feet should be bathed in warm water daily, and after the bath should be rubbed briskly, quickly dried and dusted with a plain dusting powder.

WASH YOUR NECK WELL TO WARD OFF BOILS

Those frequent and unwelcome visitors--boils--always are due to skin infection. The greatest preventive is constant cleanliness of the skin, particularly of the back of the neck or other parts commonly affected.

In men the back of the neck is the part most commonly affected, usually because of the constant rubbing of the collar on the hair of the lower part of the back of the head.

May Be Serious Signal.--Certain diseases, such as diabetes, seem to predispose the person to infection with boils, and the constant recurrence of boils should be the signal for a visit to the doctor.

The person who succumbs readily to skin infections lacks bodily resistance. This resistance of the skin is associated with the presence in the blood of substances that will overcome bacteria.

The constantly recurring warning to keep the body in the best physical state by proper diet, proper cleaning and prompt attention to infections in the ear, nose and throat is here of the greatest importance.

When a boil occurs the parts around it are usually shaved, since the infection spreads from one hair follicle to another. All sorts of antiseptics may be applied and fail to control the boil unless the tissues of the body wall it off and cause it to “come to a head.” Heat aids this process by bringing a good supply of blood to the part affected.

Surgical Attention.--A boil should not be opened by some friend who happens to think himself a surgeon merely because he does not faint at the sight of blood. Improper opening or drainage of a boil may be exceedingly serious by spreading the infection to the body generally.

The surgeon will open the boil with proper precautions against extension of the infection and will see to it that the boil drains properly.

The germs that cause boils are small round organisms, commonly seen in clusters when stained and studied with a microscope. Some physicians build up the resistance of the chronic sufferer from boils by preparing a vaccine from the patient’s own bacteria.

PSORIASIS ONE OF THE MOST ANNOYING SKIN FAULTS

Of all of the diseases of the skin that affect the human body, one of the most annoying is called psoriasis. In this disease, the skin becomes inflamed and there develop round patches which are red at their base and which are covered by dry, white scales.

These patches slowly enlarge, never developing into blisters, but continuing to give off scales. The disease usually begins on the back of the arms and the front of the legs, just below the elbows and knees, and may involve also the scalp and the lower part of the back, but seldom appears on the face.