2244 



D YSIDROSES AND D YSTROPHIES 



Prognosis. — There is no danger to life in the disease. 



Treatment. — The disease is best treated by making a longitudinal 

 cut into the groove, when its progress may be stopped. 



Prophylaxis. — The essentials of the prophylaxis are cleanhness, 

 and the wearing of stockings and boots to protect the foot from 

 injury. 



Symmetrical Palmar Erythema. 



Chalmers, in 1899, drew attention to a symmetrical non-prurigin- 

 ous palmar erythema found in Europeans on the Gold Coast, and 

 extending along the ulnar side of the palms of the hands. The affec- 

 tion was very persistent. We have seen similar cases in Ceylon. 



Acrodermatitis Vesiculosa Tropica. 



Historical and Geographical. — This skin disease was described by 

 Castellani in Ceylon. It is of rare occurrence. 



.^Etiology. — This is unknown, but the affection may be of neuritic 

 origin. It does not seem to be connected with leprosy, in all our 

 cases the search for Hansen's bacillus being negative, and anaesthesia 

 and other signs of leprosy being 'absent. No history of traumatism^ 

 was elicited in our patients. 



Fig. 879. — Acrodermatitis Vesiculosa Tropica. 



Symptomatology. — In a well-marked case the skin of both hands, 

 especially the fingers, appears glossy and tense, the fingers assuming 

 often a tapering shape. Translucid vesicles the size of a millet seed 

 or little more are seen deeply embedded in the skin of the fingers. 

 They have clear contents, and the bacteriological examination 



