2230 



DYSIDROSES AND DYSTROPHIES 



spots, one at each angle of the mouth, has been observed by Pusey 

 in a Burmese girl and by one of us in Ceylon. The mucosa of the 

 lips may also show leucodermic patches. 



Diagnosis. — The diagnosis is generally easy. The patches, in con- 

 trast to leprosy, do not show anaesthesia; from morphcea it is distin- 

 guished by the absence of any abnormality in the texture of the 

 skin; from tinea fiava, tinea alba, and pinta, by the absence of any 

 fungus. 



Prognosis. — The disease may be said to be incurable. When large 

 patches are present, the patient complains often of asthenia, and 

 may become unfit for work, especially work in the open air and sun. 



Treatment. — -The disease is generally incurable, but the spreading 

 of the patches may be prevented, and occasionally a slight improve- 

 ment may be brought about, in our experience, by an energetic 

 arsenical treatment. We generally give arsenious acid in a pill 

 (gr. -Jg-) three to six times a day, or atoxyl injections (5 grains every 

 other day). Gillmore has tried soamin with fairly good results. 

 We have seen no benefit from the administration of suprarenal" 

 extract, as recommended by several authors. The white colour 

 may be partially hidden by applying a lotion of nitrate of silver 

 or potassium permanganate, or by tattooing. 



Heidingsfelt has devised an instrument consisting of a group of ten needles, 

 which are put in movement by electrical power. In this way tattooing may 

 be performed much more rapidly than by hand. 



Sommer claims to have cured several cases of leucoderma by injections of 

 adrenalin. 



Albinism. 



Synonyms. — Congenital leucoderma, Congenital leukopathia, 

 Congenital achromia. Congenital leukasmus. 



The affection is found in the tropics more frequently than in 

 temperate zones. It is characterized by congenital absence of 

 pigment in the skin, hair, iris, and choroid. There are cases, how- 

 ever, of partial albinism in which only the skin is affected. The 

 skin has a milky-white or pinkish appearance; the iris is rose- 

 coloured, and the pupil red. There is intolerance to light; hence 

 the pupils will be generally found to be contracted, and the patient, 

 to avoid the strong light stimulus, may go about with the head 

 downwards. Nystagmus is observed in several cases. The hair is 

 generally white or yellowish-white, fine and silky. We have seen 

 albinos with red hair. Albinos are generally poorly built, weak and 

 feeble individuals. 



etiology and Pathology. — The aetiology is unknown. The affec- 

 tion is more often observed among coloured races than in the white 

 races. It shows a certain family tendency. It is said that cases 

 occur more frequently in the offsprings of consanguineous marriages. 

 The histological examination of the skin shows absence of pigment 

 as the only abnormality. 



Treatment. — The affection is incurable. 



