ECZEMA. 285 
also that quite different remedies are required for these various classes, and to 
make at first the right selections can seldom be easy; consequently, oftentimes 
before the disease is overcome, the course of treatment has been long, tedious, 
and for a time disappointing ; moreover it has been frequently necessary to 
change the remedial measures. 
The term eczema is from Greek words that mean “ to boil out” or ‘‘effer- 
vesce,’’ and implies a condition of the skin characterized by an oozing. Or, in 
other words, in this disease there is a peculiar tendency of the affected skin to 
become moist through an oozing or exudation of a gummy fluid, that thickens 
into crusts or “ scabs.’’ 
It is true that the skin affected is not invariably moist, for the eruption may 
be in the form of simple red spots or pimples, and the eczema remain quite dry 
from beginning to end; but even in these cases there is still a very marked 
tendency in the skin to become wet with copious oozing when irritated, as by 
rubbing or scratching. 
From first to last eczema may be of one form, or assume successively several 
forms, the most common of which is the so-called moist form. This is mani- 
fested by some swelling and tenderness of the skin, which presents a dark red 
and raw appearance. From it there constantly exudes, and usually in quite 
large quantity, a gummy and adhesive fluid, which dries very rapidly in the air, 
and sticks and mats the hairs together; also forms crusts. While at first the 
skin beneath is reddened, swollen and moist, after a time it becomes dry and 
covered with scales. 
This form is sometimes preceded by vesicular eczema, characterized by the 
formation of minute water-blisters or vesicles, which are nearly transparent and 
glistening. They are but slightly raised above the surface, and crowded to- 
gether upon a highly congested base of deeply reddened and more or less 
swollen skin. The fluid in these vesicles or blisters is clear and watery at first, 
but soon becomes cloudy and gummy; and although it may be absorbed, the 
vesicles very generally break, and the discharge, adhering to the surface, dries 
rapidly and forms crusts. 
Instead of by vesicles, eczema may manifest itself by an eruption of papules 
or so-called pimples, which appear in small or large groups on skin that is red- 
dened and slightly swollen. These papules either change into vesicles and run 
the course of such, or dry into scales and crusts. 
Eczema may also be an eruption of pustules, commonly called festers. The 
fluid in them, instead of being clear and thin, is about as thick as honey; and 
when expelled it dries into yellowish crusts. This and the vesicular form are 
generally found together. 
Another form of eczema, quite common, is characterized by simple redness 
and perhaps slight swelling of the skin, under a thin layer of very fine, branny 
scales. The dark red spots which constitute this eruption cause it to resemble 
