2 4 o PHYSIC 



piecemeal over the whole cutaneous surface, with a feeling 

 as if the hands were being inflated or "blown up" in 

 "balloon fashion," and as if the skin of the arms were 

 being expanded ; very little rise of temperature, quicken- 

 ing of pulse, or other notable general symptoms, were 

 observed then or during her subsequent progress towards 

 convalescence. 



The feelings here enumerated emanated from within, 

 and were initiated there, but afterwards became generally 

 experienced without, or externally, for a brief period, and 

 then were focussed in the fingers and hands to the wrists, 

 where, after a few hours of work spent amongst materials 

 containing a large proportion of turpentine and other irri- 

 tants, the terminal result was that punctuated inflamma- 

 tions arose over the exposed and implicated parts, with 

 vesiculation of the cuticle, and oedema of the whole hands. 

 The general, as contrasted with the local, effects of this 

 process of accidental counter-irritation were not less re- 

 markable, in that the entire skin, with the exception of 

 that over the counter-irritated or affected parts, the hands, 

 became absolutely free from the itching referred to as 

 soon as the fucussing was precipitated, and did not show 

 afterwards the slightest disposition to or manifestation of 

 rash or disease. 



Eczema may also be caused or precipitated during 

 periods of predisposition by simple local irritation, due, 

 for instance, to the friction of articles of attire, such as 

 collars and cuffs, whose edges have become broken and 

 serrated, and to the local pressure, for instance, of such 

 articles of everyday use as spectacles ; the effects of these 

 irritants becoming visible and sensible at the seats of 

 friction and pressure, respectively, and if not hindered by 

 the removal of these irritants, progressing or spreading, 

 it may be, to eczematous dermatitis of considerable pro- 

 portions, or laying, it may be, the foundation of a general 

 attack. The irritant influences here mentioned being, 

 primarily, only local, and superficial in their action, if 

 withdrawn in time, immediately give place to a healthy 

 condition of the irritated part or parts in proportion to 

 the absence of predisposition, and provided the parts 

 affected have only been the epidermis and outer layer of 



