from undue severity of friction, aiming merely to give the skin a gentle stimulus incidentally to removing the effete products and dirt which the soap and water have dissolved.

The hand is the best instrument for washing the face. Guided by its exquisite sense of touch, especially in the tips of the fingers, it almost instinctively does its duty in searching out the intricacies of the numerous folds and crevices of the face. When, however, we come to the less intricate and differently placed area of the neck, we find a wash-rag of about eight inches square (made preferably of Turkish toweling) the most convenient thing for washing it, and, if desired, the shoulders. The wash-rag should have a loop on one corner of it, and, after being rinsed out, be hung up to air on the towel-horse or rack for future use.

A very great blemish in the face is sometimes to be observed as a black speck, which can be squeezed out in a form resembling a little white worm. Shakespeare speaks of "a round little worm pricked from the lazy finger of a maid." Whether he meant this kind of a worm or not, which is no worm at all, although it contains in large numbers a microscopic parasite, called Demodex folliculorum, we do not know. When such a point is present in an otherwise healthy skin, it is caused by the torpidity of the skin in that particular spot, and is merely a blemish which can easily be removed by gently pressing a watch-key tube placed over the spot, when the matter will exude. When, however, the points are numerous on the skin, they amount to a disease, known as acne punctata, which requires medical treatment, both local and constitutional, and all interference with the spots by squeezing and pressing on them leads to inflaming them and intensifying the disease. These black points are the dirty outer ends of plugs of sebaceous matter filling up sebaceous ducts. Unless they are derived, as they are when they amount to a disease, from some profound constitutional disturbance, their pres

ence suggests need of the hygienic habit of applying good soap and water with gentle friction to the face, and, not to mince matters, means neglect of cleanliness.

In the case of the presence on the face of what are called hirsuties, or development of hair in unusual, and therefore unsightly, positions, there is one sure and painless remedy which leaves eventually no trace of its application, and only for a short time any trace at all. This is the application of the negative current of the galvanic battery, administered with a very fine needle. The needle, being exquisitely fine, does not give a sensation equal to that of the prick of a pin; and the very moderate galvanic current used does not produce much The papilla of the hair, which later we shall have occasion to describe, is destroyed by the current, making it impossible for the hair which grew from it ever to be renewed. What are called depilatories, substances for removing the hair, temporarily denude the skin of hair, only to let it renew itself with a more vigorous growth than before, just as the hair is affected by shaving, the length of the individual hair becoming less, but the thickness greater.

more.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE COSMETIC CARE AND TREATMENT OF THE FACE.

HE face should be shielded from fierce, inclement blasts of

THE

cold air, and also from rays of a sun so hot as to blister. Excepting fungi, every living thing requires for health and beauty profuse heat, air, and light, and the skin requires these abundantly, but for beauty within certain fixed bounds. The complexion of an old sea-captain is healthy, but butternut in color, and tough as to integument; yet one may have quite as healthy a skin without those characteristics.

In the case of any blemish on the face, such as is produced by the presence of inappropriate hairs, small moles, or nævi, commonly called "mother's marks," they can be easily removed without scarring by means of the electric needle. When they there amount to an aneurism by anastomosis, or intricate blending of blood-vessels, scarring sometimes following their removal, it had better then not be attempted. Elsewhere, even such nævi ought to be removed, for, if injured, they often, with increase of years, form an ugly, sloughing sore. On the face, nævi, if small and superficial, ought to be removed by the electric needle, and can be, without the result of scarring. Mr. W. Beatty, of London, has lately claimed great success in their removal by the application of arsenic. The preparation em ployed is the ordinary liquor arsenicalis of the British Pharmacopoeia. The nævus is painted with it, with a camel's hair pencil, every night and morning, until it ulcerates, a cure being effected in from three to five weeks.

Incidentally, we wish to impress upon the reader that moles and other abnormal skin surfaces sometimes become the seat of papilloma which may degenerate into epithelioma, a malignant growth. It is, therefore, advisable for every one having such a

growth to watch it carefully, lest, as often happens, some trifling injury to it may cause serious disease. The physician is the proper person to whom to submit the case for treatment. Often these growths need immediate extirpation, which is quickly accomplished by the electric needle.

Sunburn, and freckles, if not of long standing, are quite amenable to treatment with tincture of benzoin and water, one teaspoonful of the tincture to a cupful of cold water. Carefully avoiding getting the mixture into the eyes, bathe the parts for ten minutes morning and night. Let the face then become almost dry after bathing it, and while it is in a slightly moist condition dry it gently with a piece of soft, old linen. A good preparation for the removal of freckles is the follow. ing paste :

Apply the mixture at night, before retiring, and remove the residue in the morning with a little powdered borax and sweet-oil. The following recipe is useful for chapped lips :

When mixed, boil them down to the volume of pint, and then add to the mixture 2 ounces of glycerin, scenting with 2 or 3 drops of oil of roses.

This preparation is good, not only for chapped and cracked lips, but for chapped hands. It also makes a very good dressing for the hair.

The following is a convenient preparation, because it takes a solid form, and can be used in small quantities, as needed :—