Treatment

Mr. Thomas reports three cases treated by collodion. The naevi were covered, together with the surrounding skin, with collodion, which was repeatedly applied. Improvement was so marked as to do away with the necessity for operative interference.

Dr. Mayor publishes an interesting case of a naevus of the cutaneo-subcutaneous variety, on the back, in a girl aged ten months, where he successfully tried electrolysis. The number of sittings was two, and the duration of each about two minutes. On examination of the patient, nearly four years later, not a trace of the naevus was detected.

Dr. Marshall, from an experience of many years, recommends the electrolytic treatment of naevi as superior to every other. After criticising the methods in vogue, he claims for electrolysis: That it gives no after-pain; that it is free from danger; that there is no bleeding; that the resulting scar is white and shows no tendency to contract -  a point not to be forgotten since naevi are so common about the head and face. This method is slow, the disappearance being gradual. One or more needles are used according to the size of the growth, and they are moved about to attack the various portions without withdrawing them. It is well, at first, to work well away from the surface to avoid destroying the same. The scars left by the negative needles are apt to be brown and disfiguring and hence the positive pole is to be preferred, being slower in its action, less apt to cause sloughing or to be followed by bleeding after withdrawal of the needle. A rheophore attached to the negative pole completes the circuit, a second puncture being thus avoided. As regards the number of cells, ten are usually sufficient, although in deep naevi as many as twenty have been used. A change in colour to a dusky hue is the indication to stop the current. To withdraw the needle it should be first rotated and the orifice can be painted with collodion.


The following remedies should be carefully studied, in order to find the simile in each case: This being found, it should be given sufficiently high and at long intervals, in order to remove as rapidly as possible from the system the morbid condition which sustains these irregularities of the circulation, and to enable nature to remedy the deficiency in structural organization from which perhaps they originally sprung.


If the arterial capillaries are involved:
Bellad. will be indicated by red radii extending from the centre.
Calc. curb. - In leucophlegmatic temperaments.
Lycopocl. - In hypertrophied capillary tumors, both venous and arterial.
If the venous capillaries are involved:
Carho veg. - Particularly when the slightest irritation causes free hcamorrhage.
Phos. - Small wounds bleed much; this may be either venous or arterial.

Dr. Wilkinson reports a case of naevus on left labium majus, little girl aged six weeks, cured by application of thuja θ, thrice daily for six weeks.