HYDROA VACCINIFORME (Razin) (Summer eruption—llutchinson) The skin affection described as hydroa vacciniforme by Bazin in 1861 and again by Hutchinson in ISSS as summer eruption occurs during the first y:ear of life and is comparatively rare, there being only fifty published cases up to the present. The affection usually begins in the first few years and has been described as lasting until the thirteenth or fourteenth year, in one case even until the thirty-first year. In spring, under the influence of the sun, the exposed parts of the body (face, neck and back of hands) are covered after a prolonged stay in the sun with coarse little papules on a reddened base which may be covered by vesi cles; these turn into crusts, or the centre may sink in producing a vaceiniform fossa, or new vesicles may form at the margin. After ten or fourteen days the crusts fall off, leaving fine white cicatrices behind which look like pox marks. The affection always occurs in spring, recurs in SIIIIIMET and autumn and disappears in winter. It is almost exclusively a children's disease; as stilted above, only few cases have been reported at a later age (up to thirty-one years).
Pathological Anatomy.—The skin ehanges which have been de scribed in detail by Mibelli, Bowen, and Moller, consist in a white sero fibrous inflammation of all layers of the skin, there being small vesicles in the rete. Besides, Moller found necrosis of the deeper layers of the epidermis into the corium.
Etiology.—The etiology of this ailment is as yet quite dark. All we know is that it occurs in all climates and that both girls and boys are attacked by it in equal proportions. Ehrmann regards the process as a product of the short-waved and chemically active rays of the sun.
diagnosis gives rise to no confusion.
Prognosis is very favorable.
Treatment.—The treatment purposes protecting the skin from the rays of the sun. For this purpose Unna recommends painting the skin with gelatin, Veiel wearing of orange colored and red veils, Hammer the application of quinine salts in aqueous aceticized solution, Moller believes in hardening the skin by more exposures.
Internal and external treatment have remained without success.