Kerosene Oil.
A burning oil, refined from crude Petroleum.
Pathar-ka-tél (Punj.).
414. Owing to the extensive use of this mineral Oil for lighting purposes during the past few years, it can now be obtained in nearly every bazaar in the country. According to the experience of Dr. Aitchison, no local remedy is so pre-eminently useful in all Skin Diseases as this, especially when of a parasitic origin. It is comparatively of little use in syphilitic eruptions.
415. The oil may be employed pure when no large surface is involved, but if the disease to be treated extensively covers the body, it should be diluted with equal parts of sweet oil. Nothing can come up to it, he asserts, in removing and destroying bugs from old wood. It is also said to be of use in removing white ants.
416. In Itch, when of limited extent, after opening each pustule, rub into the part carefully twice or thrice daily pure Kerosene Oil. If it be extensively diffused over the whole body, after thoroughly washing with soap and water, rub in a solution of equal parts of Kerosene and Sweet Oil. This, observes Dr. Aitchison, far surpasses the Sulphur treatment. In Ringworm it is sufficient to paint the affected spot with the pure oil twice or thrice daily. In Scalled Head, after cutting the hair as short as possible, apply a poultice to clean off the scab from the scalp, and then thoroughly saturate the cleansed surface with Kerosene Oil. During treatment the patient should wear an oil-skin cap. Oil alone, applied thus, adds Dr. Aitchison, will cure the disease, but Kerosene does it more quickly and effectually. Lice of all kinds are at once destroyed by rubbing Kerosene Oil into the parts they occupy, and are totally exterminated by two or three free applications. (Dr. Aitchison.)
417.
Rock Salt.
An impure Chloride of Sodium.
Senda-lon, Senda-namak (Hind., Duk.), Indúppú (Tam., Tel.), Intúppa (Mal.), Nímak, Lun (Punj.).