In the majority of cases the condition responds to proper treatment, but in others it proves rebellious. The prognosis depends, in fact, upon the removability of the cause. Temporary relief may always be given by external applications.
How would you treat pruritus?
With systemic remedies directed toward a removal or modification of the etiological factors, and, for the temporary relief of the itching, suitable antipruritic applications. In obscure cases, quinia, salophen, lithia salts, calcium chloride, belladonna, nux vomica, arsenic, pilocarpine, and general galvanization may be variously tried. Alkalies prove useful in many cases.
Exceptionally, the relief furnished by external treatment is more or less permanent.
Name the important antipruritic applications.
Alkaline baths; lotions of carbolic acid (ʒj-ʒiij to Oj), of resorcin (ʒj-ʒiv to Oj), of liquor carbonis detergens (℥j-℥iv to Oj), and liquor picis alkalinus (ʒj-ʒiv to Oj), used cautiously. One or several ounces of alcohol and one or two drachms of glycerin in each pint of these lotions will often be of advantage, as the following:—
℞ Ac. carbolici, ................................... ʒj-ʒiij
Gylcerinæ, ...................................... fʒij
Alcoholis, ...................................... f℥ij
Aquæ, .................. q.s. ad. ................ Oj. M.
Various dusting-powders, alone or in conjunction with the lotions.
And in some cases, especially those in which the skin is unnaturally dry, ointments may be used, such as equal parts of lard, lanolin, and petrolatum, to the ounce of which may be added from five to thirty grains of carbolic acid, three to twenty grains of thymol, ten to thirty minims of chloroform, or two to ten grains of menthol.
What external applications are to be used in the local varieties of pruritus?