184 APPLIED IMMUNOLOGY 



lanolin. The test is not so delicate or reliable as either 

 the premier subcutaneous method or even von Pir- 

 quet's scarification, but is utilized by some practi- 

 tioners, especially in febrile patients, because of its 

 ease of application and absolute harmlessness. The 

 ointment is applied as follows : An area of skin about 

 five centimetres in diameter on the abdomen or in the 

 mammary region is cleansed with soap and water, 

 alcohol and finally with sterile water to remove all 

 traces of alcohol. A mass of the ointment, about the 

 size of a pea, is thoroughly rubbed into the prepared 

 area for one-half to two minutes. A gauze dressing, 

 covered with oiled silk or wax paper, is serviceable to 

 protect the patient's clothing. The reaction, occur- 

 ring usually within a few to forty-eight hours, rarely 

 delayed for a week, is characterized by a few to a 

 hundred or more discrete papules from one to five 

 millimetres in diameter, in the case of marked reac- 

 tions surmounting an erythematous base and as- 

 sociated with itching, at other times not. The papules 

 dry up and desquamate in a few days and at the end 

 of two weeks merely a brownish pigmentation re- 

 mains visible. The reaction is not accompanied with 

 fever, pain or undue discomfort. The more intense 

 reactions are observed in scrofulous conditions and 

 bone tuberculosis ; weaker reactions are usually seen in 

 infections of the lungs. 



