[A guide to the treatment of diseases of the skin / by T. Hunt].

  • Hunt, Thomas.
Date:
[1859]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [A guide to the treatment of diseases of the skin / by T. Hunt]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    The following general rules, however, if adopted rigidly, would go far towards preventing the severity of suffering produced by skin disease, and, in many instances, securing an immunity from them alto- gether. 1. The skin itself should be cared for; it should be kept clean, warm, and in the full performance of its functions. These functions are for the most part car- ried on insensibly, but they are not the less important on that account. A very large amount of fluid, in the form of invisible vapour, is discharged from the whole surface of the skin every twenty-four hours. It is only when it is discharged so rapidly as to be condensed on the sur- face, that we become sensible that we are perspiring; and this may take place not from rapid exhalation only, but from a state of the atmosphere already laden with vapour; or from wearing an impervious garment through which the transpired vapour cannot possibly escape. Sensible perspiration, depending as it does on various accidental circumstances, is rarely necessary to health. The skin may perform its functions nor- mally and efficiently, especially in winter, without becoming moist; but in all weathers it ought to be moderately soft and supple, not absolutely dry or harsh. The transpiring function is encouraged by bathing or washing with soap and water, friction of the skin with the hands, or hair gloves, frequent changes of linen, and especially of the flannel waist- coat, when one is worn next the skin, clothing suf- ficiently warm, active exercise, a sufficiency of bed- clothing in cold weather, and the respiration of a pure