PORTER'S LIPOMATA, ETC. 



PORTER'S LIPOMATA. 



Porters and hammock carriers often show one large lipomatous 

 mass on one or both shoulders, where they carry weights, or where 

 the pole on which the weight is carried presses. 



SUBCUTANEOUS NODULAR LIPOMATOSIS. 

 Synonym. — Polymicrolipomatosis. 



This condition seems to be common in the tropics in Europeans 

 and natives alike. It is characterized by the presence of subcu- 

 taneous nodules, found only on palpation, roundish or oval, painless, 

 the size of a pea to a nut. These are generally situated in the 

 subcutaneous tissue of the arms, legs, and abdomen, and in our 

 experience are not rarely mistaken for enlarged lymphatic glands. 

 On tapping them with a sterile syringe only a trace of fatty material 

 is removed, which, when placed on a slide, promptly dissolves when 

 heated or treated with ether. The microscopical examination of 

 one of these nodules, surgically removed, showed it to be composed 

 of fatty tissue. Occasionally the tumours become much larger and 

 may be plainly visible. 



ANGIOFIBROMA CONTAGIOSUM TROPICUM. 



This disease was first described by Unna and von Bassowit z. vSo far, 

 cases have been reported from the southern regions of Brazil only. 



Symptomatology. — The incubation period varies from fifteen to 

 twenty-five days. There are no prodromal symptoms. The 

 eruption consists of vivid red papules, which soon enlarge into 

 nodules the size of a large pea to an almond. The eruption may 

 affect any part of the body, but more frequently the face, neck, 

 axillae, and genital organs. It is rarely found on the legs. It very 

 frequently affects the various mucosae — oral, nasal, rectal, and 

 urethral. The nodules present a smooth surface, of a violaceous 

 colour, and they are somewhat of soft consistency; they bleed 

 severely after the slightest traumatism. They may disappear spon- 

 taneously without leaving any scar, or in other cases secondary in- 

 fections may set in, and large ulcers develop. The eruption is not 

 pruriginous, there is no fever, and the general health is not impaired. 



etiology. — This is unknown, but the disease is considered to be 

 infectious. According to Bassowitz, the infection takes place 

 during sexual intercourse, or by the habit the people of Brazil have 

 of taking their mate (national beverage), using the same cannule. 



Histopathology. — According to Unna's investigation, the histo- 

 pathology is quite different from what is observed in framboesia 

 and syphilis. The nodules consist of fibrous tissue, with scanty 

 cells intersected by extremely numerous bloodvessels. 



Diagnosis. — -The disease must be distinguished from verruga 

 peruviana and framboesia. In verruga peruviana there are severe 

 constitutional symptoms — fever, and often enlargement of the liver 

 and spleen. The condition, however, is considered to be identical 



