Diseases of the skin are very numerous and prevalent, but in the case of the majority which occur they arise from the neglect of some of the conditions necessary for the health of the akin. These con ditions in general are, good nutritious food, which should be properly digested; a due amount of warm clothing, especially during changeable and cold weather ; constant and regular exercise, so as to keep the skin as an excretory organ in perfect order ; and daily ablution of every part of the body, without which and the occasional use of soap it is vain to expect to be free from many forms of skin disease.
The following are the diseases which appear to demand further notice :— Eczema, Heat-eruption, is an inflammation of the skin, characterised at the outset by small nou-contagious vesicles, the fluid of which is finally reabsorbed ; by superficial excoriations, attended by a serous discharge, or by a squamous condition of the skin, This disease may be confined to one particular part of the body, or it may attack the whole surface. It may arise from a local cause, as from the direct rays of the sun, or from some general disturbance of the system. The vesicles may be only few,and the surrounding skin only slightly inflamed and confined to a very limited surface, or tho vesicles may be nume rous, the excoriations painful, the surface attacked extensive, and the tendency to inflammatory action in the skin so strong as to produce pustules instead of vesicles. Such are the characters of the three forms of eczema usually described by writers on diseases of the skin.—E. solaria, E. K impetiginoides. Eczema is more likely to be con founded with itch than any other disease. from which it may be die tinguished by its non-contagiousness and the very different parts of the tegnmentary system which it occupies.
There is a form of eczema which comes on from the exhibition of mercury and the external application of other medicines, and which frequently arises from the carelessness of the person attacked, which is called E. furcurio.k.
The treatment of eczema must he adapted to the causes which have produced it. According to the general state of health of the person attacked, the disease will be either acute or chronic. Slight cases of acute eczema require only a simple treatment ; a light diet, saline pur gatives, and cooling or emollient applications to the part being all that is required. In some cases the inflammation is great and the pain
intense, and where this occurs bleeding and a more active general treatment should be had recourse to. Chronic eczema is much more difficult to treat. The general health demands attention, and altera tives and tonics, according to circumstances, are demanded. Astringent lotions and ointments, such as the preparations of silver, zinc, alum, &c., may be used; sulphurous baths, and various mineral waters have also been recommended in old chronic cases of this disease. The tincture of cantharides and the preparations of arsenic have also been employed in the chronic forms of eczema.
Miliaria (Febris miliaria, Miliary Eruption) is also a vesiculous disease of the skin, and is described as contagious. It is accompanied with inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucous membrane, and is accom panied by profuse sweating. Miliaria as an epidemic and independent disease is only seen between the 43rd and 49th degrees of latitude, and its existence has been doubted by some nosologists. It frequently accompanies other diseases, and retires with the cessation of the disease which it attends. When the fever accompanying it is slight it requires little treatment. Gentle purgatives and demulcents will be found sufficient. In the epidemic form, however, it is often a formidable disease, and requires the same treatment as other epidemic contagious fevers.
Rupia is a bullous disease accompanied with small bulla, the bases of which are inflamed. The bulls: are net numerous but flat and full of a serous fluid, which becomes thick, puriform, or sanguinolent, and drying up forms blackish thin or prominent crusts. It is commonly developed on the legs, sometimes on the loins or thighs. It attacks children that are of a delicate constitution, and persons weakened by other diseases. The scrofulous are peculiarly liable to it, and it comes on after bard living, hasufficieut food exposure to cold, and vicious courses of life. It is generally indicative of an imperfect state of nutrition, and the treatment consists not so much in applications to the diseased skin, as in giving tone to the system by nutritious food, and tonic and alterative medicines.