RINGWORM

is a disease duc to a fungus that grows in the hair or skin. The scalp is usually attacked. From five to fifteen years is the common age of onset, and fcir hair is more prone to attack than dark hair. The disease often requires months and even years to cure, though at puberty it nearly always heals spontaneously. It is highly contagious to children, and their attendance at school is thus interfered with, so much so that the London Poor- Law authorities have special schools for pee children suffering from vos jay Domestic animals are very liable to attack often spread the disease, Ringworm begins as a small, red scurfy spot, which itches. It spreads from the centre and thus produces a ring spins patch, which has given rise to the name. Tho affected hairs fall out and temporary baldne results. As to treatment:— Most authorities shave the head for some distance round the patch, and rub in for ten minutes twice daily ointments to kill the fungus, ¢.g., sulphur and carbolio ointment in equal parts, or white precipitate ointment and vaseline in equal parts. Stronger remedies, e.g., chrysarobin, formalin, or lunar caustic are also in use, but the inflammation they often cause renders them unsafe, except when their effects are under close medical examination. X rays cure more quickly than any other remedy, but they produce complete baldne for a time. The domestic remedies that have been used are innumerable; salt, vinegar, ink, etc., etc, Many of these exert some action in checking the growth of the fungus. Hyposulphite of soda a drachm to the ounce of water, applied three times a day may be tried. ‘There can be no quertion, however, that medical supervision is much to be desired, even though the treatment has often to last for two years. Precautions. The heads of school children should be examined periodically, and 7 suspicious spot at once roported to the doctor. A child affected with ringworm should wear a skull cap day and night, which should be replaced by a clean one frequently. He must be cautioned not to scratch the affected spot, for by scratching he will convey the os to other parts of his body, and start & fresh place. All hats, furs, and the like which the child has been wearing shortly before the ringworm was detected are infected and are best destroyed, the lining of the hats at any rate must be burnt. Brushes and combs should be soaked in strong soda water. Tho child should never use any brush or comb, towel or pillow, but its own, and these should bo washed frequently. The disease often spreads round a family from neglect of this simple precaution. It is, by the way, a good rule to insist on each member of a family having his own brush and comb for the same reason. The finger used to rub the ointment into the ringworm should be protected by tho finger of a clean leather glove, or infection may occur. Ringworm on the body should be treated in the same way. It can be cured easily, usually in a fortnight. [s. 402]