diseases to which it may bear rough resemblance.

#State the prognosis of acne rosacea.#

All cases may be favorably influenced by treatment; the mild and
moderately-developed types are, as a rule, curable, but usually
obstinate. It is a persistent disease, showing little, if any, tendency
to disappear spontaneously.

#What is the method of treatment?#

Both constitutional and local measures are demanded in most cases.

#Upon what is the constitutional treatment to be based?#

The constitutional treatment, beyond a regulation of the diet, is to be
based upon a correct appreciation of the etiological factors in the
individual case. There are no special remedies. Iron, cod-liver oil,
tonics, ergot, alkalies, saline laxatives, and similar drugs are to be
variously prescribed.

#What is the external treatment?#

In many respects, both as to the preliminary measures and remedies,
essentially the same as that employed in the treatment of simple acne
(_q. v._). The _x_-ray treatment is not so efficient in this disease,
however, as in acne. In addition to the treatment there found, several
other applications deserve mention:--

In many cases _Vleminckx's solution_[C] is valuable, applied diluted
with one to ten parts of water. Also, a mucilaginous paste containing
sulphur:--

[Rx] Mucilag. acaciae, ..................... f[dram]iij
Glycerinae, ........................... f[dram]ij
Sulphur, praecip., .................... [dram]iij. M.

[Footnote C:
[Rx] Calcis, .............................. [Oz]ss
Sulph. sublimat., .................... [Oz]j
Aquae, ................................ [Oz]x.

To be boiled down to [Oz]vj and filtered.]

Or a similar paste with the glycerine in the foregoing replaced with
ichthyol may be used.

#In what manner are the dilated bloodvessels and connective-tissue
hypertrophy to be treated?#

The enlarged capillaries are to be destroyed by incision or by
electrolysis. Properly managed the vessels may be thus destroyed, but
unless the predisposing causes have disappeared or have been remedied, a
new growth may take place.

If the knife is employed, the vessels are either slit in their length or
cut transversely at several points. The method by electrolysis is the
same as used in the removal of superfluous hair (_q. v._).; the needle
may, if the vessel is short, be inserted along its calibre, or if long,
may be inserted at several points i