ral duration of a vesicle rarely extends over a few days, and the itching which accompanies the eruption is certain to cause the lesions to be torn and the surface to become crusted by the drying of the serous exudation. And yet this aggregation of numerous minute, rounded, glistening vesicles upon a red and swollen surface of skin is perhaps the most characteristic phase of the disease. It was formerly believed that this was essentially a vesicular disease and that these lesions must be
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Fig. 24.—Eczema impetiginosum.
present at the outset in every case of true eczema. The vesicular stage, when present, is attended with great heat and burning. The vesicles quickly rupture or coalesce, the epidermis cracks, and a surface exudation of a clear serum takes place. This is of a mucilaginous character, stiffens hair or linen with which it comes in contact, and dries like a varnish upon the inflamed surface, which quickly cracks, however, and thus allows the discharge to ooze out at many points. When the inflammation is very severe the greater portion of
