DISEASES OF SKIN

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1931, Page 3

DISEASES OF SKIN

TAKING CANCER IN TIME. FALLACY ABOUT LEPROSY. An emphatic warning to people who suspect tile beginnings of cancerous growths 011 the sum to seek medioai advice witiniot delay was uttered by Dr. U. W. \Ynson in the Auckland University College Hall in an address oh “The Skin and Some ol its Afflictions.” The address, whien was illustiated by a motion-picture film and numerous slides, w..s one of g series arranged by the Auckland Institute and Museum, and given under the auspices o ; tie Auckland branch of the British Medical Association.

“Tt % st'iil a’popular fallacy that call, cer of the skin is an alarming affliction which can rarely he got rid of,” said Dr. Wilson. “It ought to be known that skin cancers can be- removed if taken in time. They' begin with «* smalling, which rapidly increases in extent, and people should on n 0 account delay in having an inspection of it made. In the early stages removal is a simple matter, hut if allowed to con- | tinue unchecked for. some time, the growth when removed often results in I serious disfiuration when it occurs on the face.”

Another belief Held commonly which Dr. Wilson said was to a large degree unfounded was the universal horror of leprosy-, in reality that affliction he said, was not as terrible or as contagious as one of th e common diseases of civilisation which strangely, was not feared as much as its gravity warranted, Numbers of cases of leprosy, even in its serious form, were being cured to-day.

“It is probable that the horror with which people look upon leprosy has its origin in Biblical accounts of the disease,” said Dr. Wilson. “This affliction, however, probably took on a more serious aspect in translation than w-as actually intended. In a dictionary ( have seen psoriasis was given as the alternative of ‘lepra,’ lienee the probable confusion.”

I Some kinds of common garden plants, said Dr. Wilson, were often responsible for severe skin afflictions. The skin of som© people was peculiarly susceptible to irritation even by flowers and plants which were a feature of nearly every home garden. Daffodils, the incense plant, and in one case, the ordinary tomato had been th e cause'of painful and unexpected skin disorders. Internal diseases and affections came from numerous origins. The most, easily preventable resulted from insufficient bathing. Strange as it might seem, a. person who exercised vigorously perspired freely changed his clothes, yet did not bathe, was in a healthier condition than one who did not perspire heavily, did not often change, but yet .who bathed often'. Perspiration was a most effectual agent for the cleansing of the skin, but of course did not obviate the value of the use of plenty of water. I '