plaints are, Sulphur, Sepia, Mercurius, Rhus, Antimonium-tart.. Silicea, Hepar-sulph., Aurum-mur., Arsenicum, Iodine, Calcara carb., Dulcamara.

ADMINISTRATION.-Attenuations and repetitions of doses, the same

as in scabies.

ECTHYMA.-Diagnosis.-This disease originates from a morbid condition of the skin, which supervenes during the course of eruptive and other fevers, venereal diseases, scrofula, scurvy, &c. The pustules are of considerable size, seated upon swollen, bright-red, and painful bases, and never running together, but always preserving a distinct character. After a few days the pustules become covered with hard and dark or greenish scabs, which in one or two weeks dry up and dis appear. Ecthyma has been subdivided into several distinct varieties. on account of some trifling and unimportant modifications which the eruptions occasionally present, from peculiarities of age, constitution, discase, and habits of life. The most common of these varieties are:

1. Ecthyma Vulgare.-"Consisting of a partial eruption of small, hard pustules, on the neck, shoulders, or extremities, which is completed in about three days. They enlarge and inflame from pus, and form scabs. These eventually dry, fall off, and leave no mark behind They are chiefly seen in young persons whose health has been im paired."

2. Ecthyma Luridum, with pustules, "larger, more diffused, more repeated and fixed upon a hard, elevated base of a peculiar dark-red color." (Hall.)

3. Ecthyma Infantile, occurring generally in infants of delicate or scrofulous constitutions, or in those whose systems have been enfeebled by abuse of drugs.

4. Ecthyma Cachecticum, peculiar to individuals who are suffering under a venereal, scrofulous, or psoric taint.

IMPETIGO.

DIAGNOSIS. The eruption consists of clusters of small pustules. vesicular in the first instance, but soon becoming purulent. After a few days the pustules burst, and thick and dark-yellow scabs remain. The skin around the pustules is somewhat swollen, inflamed, and painful, and when the secretion from the ruptured pimples is acrid, the patient is often annoyed with an exceedingly disagreeable burning and itching sensation. Willan, Bateman, Rayer, Schroen, and several other eminent writers on cutaneous affections recognize five different varieties: 1. Impetigo Figurata, occurring generally in children during dentition, and in "young men and women of lymphatic or sanguine-lym phatic temperaments." Rayer advises Lycopodium, Sepia, Sulphur,

Rhus-tox., Graphites, Calcarea-carb., Dulcamara, and Petroleum in this form of the disease.

2. Impetigo Sparsa.-In this variety the pustules are isolated, and dispersed over the shoulders, buttocks, face, scalp, or legs. It generally "appears in the fall and winter, and disappears in spring and summer." (Bateman.) Mercurius, Sulphur, Cicuta, and Lachesis will be found specific in this form.

3. Impetigo Erysipelatodes.—The eruption is generally a dis◄ase of the face, and bears some resemblance to erysipelas in the first instance, but soon changes to a pustular character. The scabs which form on the pustules are of a dirty-yellow or greenish color, and are kept soft by the secretion which is under them. Schroen considers. Belladonna, Rhus-tox., Mercurius, and Arsenicum the proper remedies for this form.

4. Impetigo Scabida.-This is a severe form, attended with more inflammation and pain in the affected parts, and more extensive ulceration and discharge than either of the other varieties. We may employ Hepar-sulph., Mercurius, Arsenicum, and Iodine.

Impetigo Larvalis, or Crusta Lactea-"Common amongst young nursing children; characterized by an eruption upon the cheek of superficial, more or less confluent pustules, united in groups, attended with slight itching, and followed by yellowish and green-generally thin and lamellated, at times, however-with thick and soft crusts, that, when loosened, leave a red and inflamed surface, which is quickly covered with new crusts.

TREATMENT.—The best remedies are, Sulphur and Rhus-tox., (Schroen,) or Dulcamara, Lycopodium, and Sepia, (Knorre,) or Graphites and Mezereum. (Lobethal.)

ADMINISTRATION.-In the same manner as in eczema.

Sulphur.-Dr. Guilbert, of Dubuque, says, Sulphur is the leading internal remedy, and is necessary at intervals, even when some one of the following is preferred: Clematis-erecta, Phytolacca-decandria, Arsen.-Dulc., Croton-tiglium, Conium, or Hepar, but whatever internal treatment is relied on, they recover soonest under some application of the proper remedies topically.

Mercury-Specific effects of Mercury on the Skin.-Pearson describes an eruption which he has named mercurial eczema. It is also to be observed that Calomel is a common prescription for eczema. Erasmus Wilson directs Calomel one grain with one of sugar of milk for a young infant. "After the first dose, the Calomel may be repeated according to circumstances, once a week, twice a week, every other night, for a few nights, or even every night." (Skin Diseases, E. Wilson, p. 177.) In an attenuated form the remedy is a good one.

Mercury is proved to be homoeopathic to "iritis: periostosis, paraplegia,

hemiplegia, and shaking palsy," in all of which allopathists have long employed mercurials.

4. Crusta Serpiginosa.-This form resembles crusta lactea, but is marked by the appearance of small vesicles behind the ears, which burst, forming a thin, dark-colored scab, from which an acrid fluid is secreted. The face, neck, arms and trunk, eventually become involved. For the cure of this form Schroen advises Sulphur, Clematis erecta, Calcarea-carb., Lycopodium and Arsenicum.

Causes. By many the disease is supposed to be owing to the presence in the skin of minute animalculæ of the species acarus scabiei. It has likewise been attributed to want of cleanliness, and the use of unwholesome food. The remedies should be given in the first or second attenuation, and repeated two or three times a day until the eruption disappears. In recent cases, Hartmann, Schroen, and Schmid, employ the tinctures and the first dilutions; but in obstinate cases they employ from the third to the sixth attenuations.

ACNE,

Is another pustular affection, making its appearance generally upon the nose, face, forehead, and shoulders, first in the form of a thickening redness and induration of the integuments, from which eventually proceed suppurating points or tubercles. The parts affected often acquire a depth of redness and a conspicuousness which much annoy the patient. Plumbe supposes that the malady consists in a diseased condition of the sebaceous follicles, induced by excessive indulgence in the pleasures of the table, sedentary habits, &c. Sometimes it is violent, and extensive inflammation and suppuration occur. Acne consists of hard inflamed tubercular tumors of the face, neck, shoulders, or upper part of the thorax, most common in young persons, suppurating slowly or subsiding after a few days. In the simplest form it begins with small, hard and inflamed tubercles of the size of a pin's head, reaching their greatest size in eight days. They are then darkred, smooth, prominent, shining, hard and painful; in two or three days more a small speck on the apices of some of them, shows the ter mination in suppuration; a thin humor flows from the surface, dries, and is gradually removed.

A second variety has the tubercular pustules larger, more indurated and permanent. They are numerous, conical or oblong in form; sometimes rose-colored; some suppurate at their apices; others remain hard and elevated, giving the name of "stone pock." Acne simplex is generally connected with some derangement of the general health, occurring most commonly in females, who suffer from menstrual irregula rities, especially dysmenorrhoea.

ACNE ROSACEA.-Rosy Drop, Carbuncled Face,-Commonly begins at the end of the nose, and spreads from its sides to the cheeks, covering only a part of them. It consists of small tubercles which suppurate slowly, exhibiting a shining redness and an irregular, granulated appearance of the skin. At first it is pale in the morning, and becomes intensely red from excitement. The cuticle is gradually thickened, and its surface diversified by cutaneous veins, which become varicose and suppurate. Acne rosacea occurs later in life than the former species, and is often caused by the intemperate use of stimulating drinks. In the worst cases the nose is enormously enlarged, the tubercles suppurate and form ulcers which are cured with great difficulty. Acne Punctata.-Crimones.—Maggot Pimple.-A number of black points, surrounded by a very slightly elevated border of cuticle. It proceeds from concreted sebaceous matter accumulated in the follicular glands, and may be squeezed out of these glands or their ducts. They sometimes inflame and form smail tubercles which suppurate partially.

Acne Syphilitica.- Venereal Acne.-Only caused by the constitutional influence of secondary syphilis. It resembles the acnea rosacea, appearing on the forehead, face, neck, and upper part of the trunk. The vari are round, conical, inflamed, with a copper-colored tubercular base and areola.

TREATMENT.-Acne in intemperate persons: Nux-vom., Ledum,

Sulphur.

Acne Rosacea: Causticum, Rhus, Sepia, Carb.-.animalis.

Acne Punctata: Bell., Hepar, Natrum, Nitric-ac., Sulph., Sepia. Sepia operates especially on the portal system, retarding the circulation and causing an overloading of the vascular system with venous blood. A plethora venosu gives rise to most of the symptoms of Sepia. (Meyer.) It is appropriate in all cases where this pathological state causes pustular eruptions, complicated with derangements of the digestive and uterine organs.

Hydriodate of Potash.-Acne punctata in young females, pimples thickly strewn over the face, especially the vicinity of the ale of the nose two grain doses repeated three times a day. A well-marked case improved in ten days. Cures entirely in seven weeks. (Banks, N. A. Jour. Homœop., 1857, Aug.)

Mercurius-corrosivus.-This remedy, which has so long been employed in the syphilitic form of acne, as well as in obstinate cases of other skin diseases, is much more successful in homoeopathic practice. In the third trituration, repeated every four or six hours for some weeks, some obstinate cases have been cured. In many others due attention to the digestive and uterine functions have been sufficient.

Belladonna.-Acne in young persons, with uterine derangements, dysmenorrhoea, and determinations to the head.

Carbo-vegetabilis-The pustules itching, suppurating, with burning pain, in lymphatic temperaments. Hepar-Sulph., Sulphur, in psoric cases.

Rhus.-radicans.-Red-inflamed tuberculoid elevations on the skin.

PAPULAR VARIETIES.-1. LICHEN.

DIAGNOSIS. Many kinds of this malady are described by writers, although the general character of the eruption is in all instances the same. Willan gives us seven different forms; and other authors describe even a greater number. But the propriety of these minute sub-divisions is very questionable, since some slight distinctions might be made in almost all cases which occur; and thus lead to a very extensive and inconvenient classification.

The eruption consists of numerous small papillæ upon the breast, arms, and limbs, in the first instance, which afterwards spread over the whole surface of the body, attended with a tingling, and itching, especially when exposed to heat, or when covered up warmly in bed. The eruption is generally preceded by slight febrile excitement, and symptoms of gastric or intestinal disorder. The basis of the papillæ are red, inflamed, and painful, but they do not often suppurate, or become filled with serum, but continue about eight or nine days, when they dry up, and fall off in the form of scurf.

The eruption which is so often seen in infants during the period of dentition, and known as "the red gum," is a form of lichen. In these cases the color of the papillæ may be red or white.

Sometimes the eruption appears in the palms of the hands, the arms and legs, when it receives the vulgar appellation of "Salt-rheum."

The eruption now and then comes out in a mild form upon the trunk or extremities, attended with heat, and troublesome itching on becoming heated, or from rubbing or scratching, but entirely unattended by febrile excitement. This variety is familiarly known under the desig nation of prickly heat.

CAUSES.-Irritation of the stomach and intestines from errors in diet, worms, and teething. Also protracted exposure to a hot fire; going into the cold air after long exertion while in a profuse perspiration, or sometimes from entering a hot apartment after having been exposed for a long time to intense cold.

TREATMENT.-The following medicines will suffice to cure all forms of this complaint: Sulphur, Graphites, Calcarea-carb., Sepia, Iodine, Antimonium-tart., Copaiba-bals., Acid.-phos., Chamomilla, Dulcamara, Rhus-tox., Hepar-sulphur.

ADMINISTRATION.-Same as for eczema.