CHILBLAIN, in medicine, is a small tumor, or ulcer, in the hands, feet, heels, &c. It is occasioned either by exposing warm parts too suddenly to a cold temperature; or holding the hands, or feet, when extremely cold, too precipitately to a considerable degree of heat. Such affections always have a great tendency to mortification, in which they frequently terminate.
Children of sanguine habits, and delicate constitutions, are most liable to chilblains; which may be prevented by such remedies as invigorate the system; by wearing flannel socks, from the beginning of September to the latter part of spring, and occasionally taking gentle laxatives, when they are disposed to become costive. All these precautions, however, will be attended with no benefit, if young people are suffered to repair to the fire, immediately after coming from the most severe external cold.
In the commencement of this painful complaint, the cure is easy: immerse the part affected, several times a day, for a few minutes, into cold water, and guard against sudden vicissitudes of heat and cold; as either are equally hurtful. But, if simple water procure no speedy relief, dissolve an ounce of salt-petre in half a pint of vinegar and an equal quantity of water, and foment with it the part affected every night. When the tumors will not yield to these applications, and still remain in a swelled and painful state, without producing ulceration, a few drops of the pure tincture of benzoin may be rubbed occasionally on them; and the parts should be defended against the external air, by soft linen cloths: from this simple treatment, we have experienced the best effects.