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Show HEALTH ADVICE - By Dr. Morri Fishb'ein Editor, Journal at frKe Ameeieee Mimical Mim-ical Aisecletioa This Is the twelfth of a series of articles In which Dr. Morris Fiahbein discusses diseases of the skin. Fingernails are frequently changed aa to their shape, color or in other ways aa a aeault of TUneai or a disturbance at the diet. Transversa grooves will appear on the fingernails after any illness and serious changes will result after a long, severe Illness. Over-enthusiastic Over-enthusiastic care of the fingernails, finger-nails, such as pushing down the cuticle too roughly, cutting it or cutting the nail bed through the cuticle, may also bring about transversa ridgea on the nail Longitudinal ridgea, small pits In the nail, or splitting of tba nail may also follow illness or damage dam-age to the nail bed. In soma families queer formations forma-tions of the nails are hereditary. They may be spoon-shaped or curved in other ways. There are - Inotsnooa ia which shedding at I ha fingernails has occurred after an Infectious disease in which the skin peels. White spots on the fingernails are by soma people thought to be a sign of good luck, and are also called gift spots. In most instances, however, a disappearance of color In this manner Indicates an Injury to the nail bed or sometimes a development de-velopment of a general disease associated as-sociated with a disturbance of the nutrition of the nail. A thickening of the nails Is also associated with various diseases of the skin, and particularly with Infection In-fection by ringworm. One of the nails most commonly thickened Is the nail of-the big toe. Attention to the removal of the ringworm and suitable paring and scraping of the nail will in some instances bring about a restoration to normal. nor-mal. Ingrown toenails are caused by pressure of the skin around the nail which, In turn, Is a result of wearing shoes that are too short or too tight If the portion of the nail that is ingrown is carefully cut out and If measures are then taken to prevent the pressure and tightness, recovery usually follows. fol-lows. In many instances, however, attention at-tention will have to be given by a well-trained specialist in diseases dis-eases of the feet who is capable of using instruments that - are suitably sterilized and of applying the necessary antiseptic sub-stancea sub-stancea to prevent secondary infection. in-fection. Whenever the toenails are cut. If there Is the slightest sign that severs damage to the skin has occurred, oc-curred, a suitable antiseptic, such aa tincture of Iodine, should be applied to prevent secondary infection. in-fection. Next: Ringworms. |