CLASSIFICATION OF SKIN DISEASES. 737 



remedies may never be entirely neglected for the sake of the 

 general and constitutional. 



Classification of Skin Diseases. — In systematizing and render- 

 ing available our information, and as assisting us to place in 

 their proper position such disturbances and lesions as we may 

 encounter, different modes of arranging these morbid conditions 

 have been proposed and carried out. 



And although in attempting to make a classification or 

 grouping of natural objects or activities, it may be impossible 

 to obtain such absolutely correct, seeing that neither organisms 

 nor functions are separable in classes by sharp lines of demar- 

 cation, it is not on that account desirable to abandon all 

 classification whatever ; better an indifferent grouping than no 

 groupmg at all. With cutaneous affections the arrangement 

 has been carried out chiefly, if not enthely, on two separate 

 bases or lines of consideration. The first, which directs atten- 

 tion entirely to the character of the elementary lesion of the 

 disease, and may be termed the anatomical, is probably the 

 simpler and more easily grasped ; the second, probably the 

 more rational, aims at telling us more than merely the place 

 in a bald group which a particular disturbance ought to take : 

 it endeavours to analyze diseases in accordance with the nature 

 and causes of morbid action, and may be regarded as the 

 2')athological^ or clinical. 



In the rather brief consideration which is here proposed to 

 be given to skin affections, an endeavour will be made to view 

 them according to the following modified form of the latter 

 mode of classification. 



Classification of Skin Diseases. 



Class I. Congestive ccnd Inflaininatonj Diseases. 



a. Specific inflammatory, 



6. Local congestive and inflammatory, or Erythematoibs. 



c. Plastic inflammatory, or Papular. 



d. Catarrhal inflammatory, or Eczematoiis. 



e. Bullous, or Herpic inflammations. 



/. Suppurative inflammatory, or Ecthymatous. 

 g. Scaly inflammatory, or Squamous. 



47 



