Of the obscure local causes, perhaps animal and vegetable parasites are the most difficult to find. The injection of a decoction of quassia bark or lime water and carbolic acid, will be efficacious in dislodging the oxyuris vermicularis, which may or may not be seen, like small pieces of white thread lodged between the anal folds.
For the vegetable parasites, tricophyton, etc., (microscopical) sulphurous acid ranging from 50 per cent. up is an old tried remedy. Immoderate eating, drinking coffee, and smoking excites the itching with some. Whenever it be decided that no local or constitutional disease can be found as an assignable cause, and that it is purely neurotic in character, we commence to grope in the darkness for remedies. What relieves one will not another; and what relieves for a time will lose its effects altogether.
Hot water compresses, a little short of scalding, are good for relief and a good intercurrent remedy. Among the remedies highly recommended are linseed oil, thuja occidentalis, carbolic acid, citrine ointment, oil of cade, oxide of zinc, compound tincture of green soap, black wash, and galvanism. The anode is placed over the perineum and base of scrotum and the cathode against the anus or within the grasp of the sphincters. Claimed to be a specific. Nerve stretching by divulsion of sphincter muscles is also recommended.
Formulæ:
| ℞ | Ung. Citrini | ʒ ii |
| Balsam. Peru | ʒ iss |
| Acid. Carbol. | gr. xx |
| Sulphuris | ʒ iii |
| Cerat. Simp. vel Lanolini | ℥ i |
| M. |
| ℞ | Hyd. Chlor. Mit. | ℈ iv |
| Adipis | ℥ i |
| M. Said to be specific for pruritis ani or vulvæ. |
| ℞ | Hyd. Chlor. Mit. | ʒ i |
| Balsam. Peru | ʒ iss |
| Acid. Carbol. | gr. xx |
| Lanolini | ℥ i |
| M. et sig. Apply after hot sponging. |
| ℞ | Ol. Cadini | ʒ i |
| Acid. Salicyl. | gr. xv |
| Ung. Zinci Oxidi q. s. ft. | ℥ i |
| M. |
| ℞ | Saponi viridis | } | ā ā | ℥ i |
| Ol. Cadini | } |
| Alcohol. | } |
| M. (Kelsey). |