, 1939-01-02
ny Ache. Germans VIII Probably VII Be Told kkes Put Som ehi
Family Doctor
By DR. NORRIS FIsHBElN

The term eczema has been APP
piled to all sorts OF inflammations
OF the skin for years. Even today
the experts are not certain as 10
just which skin diseases r best
included in this category. These
conditions do not represent a single
disease however. Most authorities
are inclined 10 restrict the term 10
inflammations OF the skin in which
there is definite reaction TO some
external substance like drugs. oils.
varniSheS. cleaning materials. paints,
dyes and d~iSinfectants. Hypersens-
itivity to such substances is con-
ceived to be the basic cause OF
eczema.
Just how people become sensi-
tized 10 these substances is not
yet known. Sometimes the reac-
ton appears after the first con-
tact with a substance OF the type
that has been mentioned. Some
times exposure must take place
over fairly long periods OF time.
In other instances, persons seem
TO be desensitized from repeated
contacts with the substance.
DR.. Fred Wise mentions workers
Who are employed in a japanese
lacquer factory who suffer from
eczema due to the lacquer. At first
the lacquer a~ggravates the erup-
ton. then the worker will become
desensitized and may continue to
work without a recurrence. II, how
ever. he discontinues his work for
a long period Of time, the desenSi-
tization may be lost and the erup-
ton will occur again.
Some people seem TO inherit a
predisposition to eczema. More
over. there are certain habits Of
diet and living which seem TO en-
courage the spread Of eczema.
For example, there are alcohol
ism. chronic disturbances OF d.
gestion, undernourishment, and
disturbances OF the functions Of
the glands. Conditions OF this type
are frequently found in persons
who have repeated eruptions Of
the skin.
Especially important are those
cases OF eczema which appear in
infants and small children. In
most cases. 1t will be found that
others in the family have asthma,
hay fever. eruptions OF the skin.
or similar disturbances. so that
the condition Of sensitivity Is TO
some extent inherited.
Many people are inclined to re-
gard eruptions on the skin as well
as senSitivity as unimportant.
Actually. however, 1t Is safer 10
regard such people as sick. AT
least during the early periods OF
their care. they should be given
rest in bed, sedatives to keep them
quiet. proper control to prevent
scratching and damage 10 the skin
because Of the itching. and suitable
lotions TO bring about recovery
from the inflammation. In certain
instances the X-ray is used and
obviously, under such circumstances,
the patient may have TO be In the
hospital.
The itching OF eczema Is itself
a most serious symptom. When the
skin itches. the person scratches
When he scratches. he irritates the
skin. sometimes producing second
airy infection. Thus. the first step
the doctor may take Is TO apply
some or many different remedies
that are available for controlling
such itching.
II is not desirable for the pa
tient TO try TO treat himself. be-
cause a different remedy is re-
quired for each OF the different
types Of eczema. AS the person
who has the disease well knows,
II passes through periods Of dry
mes sand moistneSs, OF itching and
irritation, and each OF these states
must be treated according to the
special circumstances that exist.