22 4 



in several generations from father to son." The differences 

 in the various forms of acne are accounted for primarily by 

 differences in the skin of the affected individuals, and these 

 differences may be said to consist in relative thickness of 

 the skin, and a hyper-development of the sebaceous system, 

 which are unquestionably subject to heredity. 



Eczema is another affection dependent more or less upon 

 a constitutional proclivity, which is also hereditary. Usually 

 associated with gout, scrofula, or neurasthenia, eczema may 

 result from either of these conditions, all of which are 

 hereditary, and it may be safely asserted that those individuals 

 who have inherited the gouty, scrofulous, or neuropathic 

 diathesis are especially predisposed to eczematous affections. 

 Eczema must be regarded as practically the most important 

 of cutaneous diseases, if only on account of its comparative 

 frequency, including as it does more than one-third of all 

 cases of those diseases which come under treatment. It is 

 also remarkably protean in its manifestations, showing itself 

 under the most varied forms. The predisposition to eczema 

 differs to a remarkable extent in different individuals. As 

 with some persons every trifling irritation of the stomach 

 gives rise to gastric catarrh, so in others a mere chafing of 

 the skin will cause an attack of eczema. Amongst the 

 predisposing conditions to this affection may be mentioned 

 chlorosis, rachitis, scrofulosis, gout, albuminuria, diabetes, 

 dyspepsia, gastric and intestinal catarrhs, dysmenorrhoea,. 

 uterine affections, lactation, and pregnancy. Psychical 

 influences may also be the immediate cause of the complaint 

 where a predisposition exists. Persons having a very 

 delicate skin are more liable to eczema, and susceptibility in. 

 this direction is also increased by repeated attacks. That 

 eczema is in itself hereditary, beyond a mere predisposition. 



