Diseases of the skin : a handbook for students and practitioners.

  • Walsh, David
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Diseases of the skin : a handbook for students and practitioners. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Gerstein Science Information Centre at the University of Toronto, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Gerstein Science Information Centre, University of Toronto.

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    Symptoms.—The rash appears during the first year of infancy, often in the shape of urticarial wheals, which are followed before long by the characteristic papules on the front of the legs and back of the forearms ; later on the trunk, and rarely on the forehead. The papules are discrete, but often numerous and closely set together. Their intense itch- ting leads to scratching, so that excoriations, pigmentation, land infiltration follow a chronic secondary dermatitis. The scratched papule with the small speck of dried blood at its apex is characteristic. An eczematous condition may ensue, and there is quite commonly enlargement of neighbouring [lymphatic glands, particularly those of the groin. The [malady is extremely rebeUious to treatment. Etiology.—The disease is commoner in the male sex. Its )rigin is obscure, but it occurs more often in children of the poor than of the well-to-do, and appears to be connected ith poor food and bad hygienic surroundings. It may be jsociated, however, with various debihtating conditions in [all classes of society. It begins in childhood, and may dis- Lppear at puberty or early adolescence, or, rarely, it may )ersist through life. Tuberculosis is sometimes associated. Pathology.—The histological changes are those of a chronic jczema, and are practically identical with those of a chronic [papular eczema. Diagnosis.—^The chief malady from which it must be dis- Itinguished is chronic papular eczema. The occurrence of [prurigo in childhood, its distribution, uniform lesions, idenopathy, and chronic course, should suffice for its recognition. Treatment.—Nourishing food, tonics, frequent baths, and good environment, are essential. Cannabis indica, beginning with ]\i 10 of tincture in a child of eight (Crocker), has been recommended for the relief of the pruritus. It is better, how- ever, to depend upon local measures, such as prolonged treat- ment with alkaUne baths—sodium bicarbonate (4 ounces to 30 gallons), cyllin (2 ounces to 30 gallons), or sulphur (4 ounces to 30 gallons); or to inunction with ointments of salicylic acid, tar, sulphur, and /8-naphthol (gr. x.-xx. ad ^i.).
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