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of dealing with ringworm. True that from time to time one or
another nostrum has been vaunted as a speedy and safe specific, but,
as has been pointed out by others, these specifics owe their
popularity to the fact that they have been used for the readily
curable ringworm of the body 01* for the treatment of very recent
cases of ringworm of the scalp, or for chronic cases that have almost
yielded to other drugs. In any case, the drug treatment of ringworm
can only be described as extremely unsatisfactory, entailing,
as it does, prolonged medical supervision, considerable expenditure
of time in the daily application of drugs and dressing, and frequent
disappointing result?. Relapses, too, are quite common, and after
many years experience in treating children I know of few questions
calling for more caution than the apparently simple query—when is
a given case lit to return to school ? In many instances this can
only be answered by a microscopic examination of some of the
doubtful hairs. Within the last few years, however, it has been
found that exposure of the scalp for a certain time to what are
known as the X rays results in temporary baldness, and this
observation has been applied to the treatment of ringworm.
Within a week to a fortnight after exposure the diseased hairs, and
the fungus contained therein, fall out, and the portion of the scalp
that has been treated remains bald for some weeks. During this
time any fungus in the superficial layers of the skin can readily be
destroyed, so that when the new hair begins to grow it cannot be
re-infected.
ADVANTAGES OF THE X-RAY TREATMENT.—If skilfully applied
the X-Ray treatment appears perfectly effectual, and at the same
time, as safe as any efficient local application. At first, difficulties
were experienced in measuring the activity of the rays, but this
has been surmounted, and after consultation with several of the
most prominent London specialists and visits to several hospitals,
I am convinced that the electrical treatment fulfils the requirements
of curing " quickly, safely, and pleasantly."
With regard to speed there is much to be said. If neglected
cases of ringworm may persist for years, while even when under
skilled treatment, the cure is usually tedious. Dr. Crocker, whose
authority on ringworm is second to none, when discussing drugs,
says :—" In a very recent case, six weeks to three months would be
a reasonable time for a cure For many chronic cases, six
months is a short, and twelve months, a fair time ; but some cases
take longer even in the most experienced and skilful hands, and a
large proportion of the cases reported as cured in a month or six
weeks, are only examples of unskilled observation." With this, my
own comparatively limited experience is in entire agreement.
Fictitious cures after a few weeks' treatment are specially common