hand is enough to convey it. If it were more prevalent in this country, we would adduce this as another reason why this nuisance of promiscuous hand-shaking should be suppressed. Fortunately, it is extremely uncommon, and when met with is apparently not communicable.
The disfigurement is, however, permanent and distinct. In the instance of one young married lady, with whom we were acquainted, the excessive whiteness was modified by long-continued small doses of nitrate of silver, which gives the skin a bluish or violet tint, not desirable, indeed, but in her opinion preferable to the leprous chalkiness.
This effect of nitrate of silver or lunar caustic, as it is familiarly termed, is certain to follow its long-continued use. But as its consideration does not come under the present heading, we must commence a new section under the title
DISCOLORATIONS FROM NITRATE OF SILVER.
When these result from merely handling a stick or a solution of lunar caustic, they should be washed in a solution of iodide of potassium, which will change them from a brown to a dead white, and then removed by a solution of ammonia (spirits of hartshorn).
But when, as just mentioned, the whole body has a violet or blue tinge, the question is more serious. Unfortunately, some years ago, the nitrate obtained quite a reputation for curing epilepsy, and though it rarely
