Keratin

“ They also resemble albumen, in the fact that their solution in sulphuric acid is precipitated by potassium ferrocyanide. By fusion with potash, or prolonged boiling with dilute sulphuric acid, keratin is decomposed, yielding leucin, tyrosin, ammonia, &c. The alkaline solution of keratin (hair, horns, &c.) is precipitated by acids, and, mixed with oil and baryta sulphate, is employed under Dr. Putz's patent as a filling material for leather, for which purpose it acts in the same way as the egg-yolks and meal used in kid-leather manufacture. ”

“ The analysis of mouse digits showed a particularly strong staining in the region corresponding to the nail matrix, the nail bed and hyponychium. Interestingly, we observed an ordered monolayer of cells just adjacent to the nail plate with a strong keratin-74 staining, suggesting this protein to be of importance for the interphase of the nail and the nail bed. Furthermore, immunostaining of human skin sections revealed strong expression of Keratin-74 in the inner root sheath of hair follicles in healthy individuals. ”

“ Mutations in the keratin 85 (KRT85/hHb5) gene underlie pure hair and nail ectodermal dysplasia. J Invest Dermatol 130: 892–895 pmid:19865094↑ Jave-Suarez LF, Winter H, Langbein L, Rogers MA, Schweizer J (2002) HOXC13 is involved in the regulation of human hair keratin gene expression. J Biol Chem 277: 3718–3726 pmid:11714694↑ Pruett ND, Tkatchenko TV, Jave-Suarez L, Jacobs DF, Potter CS, et al. (2004) Krtap16, Characterization of a New Hair Keratin-associated Protein (KAP) Gene Complex on Mouse Chromosome 16 and Evidence for Regulation by Hoxc13. ”

“ Hair-nail dysplasia - a new pure autosomal dominant ectodermal dysplasia. Clin Genet 41: 296–298 pmid:16236251 2 3 4 Shimomura Y, Wajid M, Petukhova L, Kurban M, Christiano AM (2010) Autosomal-dominant wooly hair resulting from disruption of keratin 74 (KRT74) , a potential determinant of human hair texture. ”

“ These are highly complex substances, forming the basis of all animal and vegetable tissues. There are many different kinds of proteins, varying somewhat in their constitutions, but all show, on analysis the following approximate composition of chemical elements:
The principal kinds of proteins found in the various fur structures are albumins, keratin, collagen, and mucines. Albumins, of which the white of egg is the most familiar variety, occurs to some extent in the corium as serum in the blood-vessels, and also as the liquid filling the connective tissues, known as the lymph. ”

“ In infected cases a complication with iritis is not uncommon owing to the penetration of toxines into the anterior chamber.
Inflammations of the cornea are the most important diseases of the eye, because they are among the most frequent, because of the value of the cornea to vision and because much good can often be done by judicious treatment and much harm result from wrong interference and neglect. The treatment of primary keratitis must vary according to the cause. ”

“ Primary keratitis may be ulcerative or non-ulcerative, superficial or deep, diffuse or circumscribed, vascularized or non-vascularized. It may be complicated by deeper inflammations of the eye such as iritis and cyclitis. In some cases the anterior chamber is invaded by pus (hypopyon) . The healing of a corneal ulcer is characterized by the disappearance of pain where this has been a symptom and by the rounding off of its sharp margins as epithelium spreads over them from the surrounding healthy parts. ”

“ Experiments in the laboratory and in practice have shown that it is not the dissolving action on the skin substance in the narrow sense which is desired in bating the derm with dogs’ dung, but in order to prepare the hide for the manufacture of a soft and elastic leather, the albuminous intercellular substances and more particularly the layers of fat lying at the roots of the hair, in the corium and in many cases also on the epidermis, must be dissolved and thereby the fibrils of the skin loosened. ”

“ Others, further advanced in development, are small, sessile, or pedunculated hard outgrowths, without bluish colour and sometimes covered by thickened epidermis. There is a large patch of pigmented (brown) skin on the dorsal surface of the right foot, and in the neighbourhood of this pigmented area are some minute nodules of similar character to those already described. It is possible that the pigmented skin has been the site of minute growths which have undergone spontaneous involution, and have, as frequently happens in Lichen planus, left pigmentation of the skin behind them. ”

“ TAN′NING. When the skin of an animal, carefully deprived of hair, fat, and other impurities, is immersed in a dilute solution of tannic acid, the gelatin gradually combines with that substance as it penetrates inwards, forming a perfectly insoluble compound, which resists putrefaction completely; this is tanned leather. In practice, lime water is used for cleansing and preparing the skin, water acidulated with oil of vitriol for ‘raising’ or opening the pores, and an infusion of oak bark, or sometimes of catechu, or other astringent matter, as the source of tannic acid. ”

“ The duration of a secondary keratitis is usually prolonged, often lasting many months. More or less complete restoration of transparency is the rule, however, eventually.
No local treatment is called for except the shading of the eyes and in most cases the use of a mydriatic to prevent synechiae when the iris is involved. Often it is advisable to do something for the general health. In young people there is probably nothing better than cod-liver oil and syrup of the iodide of iron. Inherited syphilis, tuberculous and other inflammations are the causes of secondary keratitis. ”

“ Pimples on the face are usually due to obstruction of the sebaceous glands; sometimes the obstruction leads to inflammation around the sebaceous gland (acne) which often permanently injures the skin.
2. Accumulation of effete matter on the skin occurs, unless frequent ablutions are performed. The epidermis is constantly shedding its older and more superficial parts, in the form of minute scales or “scurf.” In the absence of frequent washing, the scales of epithelium tend to accumulate, the sebaceous secretion matting the scales together, and rendering them more adhesive. ”

“ The green shank is produced where there is pigment in the epidermis and numerous melanin pigment cells in the upper corium. It is an optical effect due to melanin lying under the semi-transparent yellow epidermis. There is no melanin in the epidermis.
In the beak the corium of the skin is represented by a thin layer located between the periosteum and the stratum Malpighii. Numerous blood-vessels pass into it, and in the soft horn-like skin, occur sensory nerve fibers.
The nails originate from the epidermis, of which they are a modification. The nails of the toes are bent downward. ”

“ After it [190] has become completely established, the mesoblast around the edge of the cornea becomes divided into two strata; an inner one (fig. 290, cb) destined to form the mesoblastic tissue of the iris already described, and an outer one (fig. 290, cc) adjoining the epidermis. The outer stratum gives rise to the corneal corpuscles, which are the only constituents of the cornea not yet developed. The corneal corpuscles make their way through the structureless corneal layer, and divide it into two strata, one adjoining the epiblast, and the other adjoining the inner epithelium. ”

“ There are few people, who have passed the middle of life, who have not at some time suffered some slight scratches or injuries of the cornea, which by not healing with a perfectly smooth surface, occasion some refractions of light, which may be conveniently seen in the following manner: fill a tea-saucer with cream and tea, or with milk, and holding it to your lips, as if going to drink it, the imperfections of the cornea will appear like lines or blotches on the surface of the fluid, with a less white appearance than that surface. ”

“ It occurs on the scalp most. The hair should be cut short, and soften the crusts with warm olive oil, or vaselin may be left on the scalp over night, then wash off the crusts with warm water and castile soap. An ointment can be made of vaselin or cold cream, and two per cent resorcin, and applied after the crust is resumed. Spread on linen and hold it in place by a thin cap, wash this off every day with olive oil and apply the salve fresh. Water should not be used oftener than once a week—oxide of zinc ointment is also good. ”

“ If the lids of the eyes become inflamed and scaly, do not seek to remove the scales roughly, for they will [Pg 360] bring the lashes with them. Apply at night a little cold cream to the edges of the closed eyelids, and wash them in the morning with lukewarm milk and water. It is well to have on the toilet-table a remedy for inflamed eyes. Spermaceti ointment is simple and well adapted to this purpose. Apply at night, and wash off with rose-water in the morning. There is a simple lotion made by dissolving a very small piece of alum and a piece of lump-sugar of the same size in a quart of water ”

“ In the early phases it is impossible to discover the little galleries under the epidermis, but closely placed reddish papules may be seen. The active proliferation of the epidermis, together with discharge, causes the formation of dry crusts of a greyish-white, silvery tint, adherent while still thin, easy to detach at a later stage, and sometimes 3⁄8 of an inch in thickness. The skin becomes wrinkled, the bristles are shed or loosened in their follicles, and are glued together in little bunches before falling. ”

“ Inflammation of the cornea may also be due to the extension of catarrhal conjunctivitis or intraocular disease, and it may occasionally occur without any perceptible cause.
Symptoms.—Diffuse keratitis is characterized by an exudation into and an opacity of the cornea. The swelling of the anterior part of the eyeball may be of an irregular form, in points resembling small bladders, or it may commence at the periphery of the cornea by an abrupt thickening, which gradually diminishes as it approaches the center. If the whole cornea is affected, it has a uniform gray or grayish-white appearance. ”

“ Aloin and two drams of Pulverized Ginger in gelatin capsule. Give at one
dose. One physic is all that is necessary to cool out the blood, which
will assist materially in treating Eczema. Also, apply Zinc Ointment
twice daily over the vesicles or pimples which will appear on the skin.
Also, feed easily digested food if possible, such as carrots, apples,
grass, hot bran mashes and steamed rolled oats, and keep the animal
clean and groom carefully with clean combs and brushes.
EYE DISEASES
CONJUNCTIVITIS, or Inflammation of the superficial structure of the eye. ”

“ As a result of external ophthalmia, opaque specks, clouds, or haziness are too often left on the cornea and require for their removal that they be daily touched with a soft feather dipped in a solution of 3 grains nitrate of silver in 1 ounce distilled water. This should be applied until all inflammation has subsided, and until its contact is comparatively painless. It is rarely successful with an old, thick scar following an ulcer, nor with an opacity having red blood vessels running across it. ”

“ Mineral oils must never be used. Glycerin not only makes the complexion darker and rather yellow, but it dries the secretions of the skin very rapidly, and a dry, harsh surface is the sure result. Vaseline—as we should know from its reputation as a hair tonic—will not prove a happiness to one.
The skin food should be rubbed in all over the face and far down upon the neck with a firm, circular movement. When the cream is partially absorbed begin the manipulations, starting at the forehead. Place the thumbs on the temples and in that way hold the skin firm and taut. ”

“ Keratosis follicularis (Darier's disease, ichthyosis follicularis, ichthyosis sebacea cornea, psorospermosis) is a rare disease characterized by pin-head to pea-sized pointed, rounded, or irregularly-shaped grayish, brownish, red or even black, horny papules or elevations, arising from the sebaceous or hair-follicles. They are, for the most part, discrete, with a tendency here and there to form solid aggregations or areas. ”

“ Hence why when the internal substance of the hair has disappeared, the canal remaining alone exhibits a more or395 less evident whiteness. 5th. In this state, though the interior of the hair may be dead, the epidermoid exterior, which is independent of it, preserves most commonly the faculty of growing when it is cut; thus the cutaneous epidermis is truly foreign to all the subjacent diseases of the skin. 6th. I presume that it is this covering which gives to the hairs of the head the property of remaining so long uninjured. ”

“ In applying creams of any sort to the face, it is wisdom to leave the upper lip untouched with the cosmetic, although one may feel perfectly safe in using home-made emollients which do not contain animal fats. Heat, rubbing and friction are all conducive to the pests, and such oils and fats as vaseline, glycerin, olive oil and mutton tallow or suet should never be used. Depilatories likewise should be shunned. The powdered preparations are usually composed either of sulphite of arsenic or caustic lime, and merely burn the hair off to the surface of the skin. ”