onal symptoms, the fatal cases usually dying of marasmus.

As will be seen dermatitis exfoliativa varies considerably in degree; it
may be extremely mild, resembling in appearance the scarlet-fever
eruption (erythema scarlatiniforme) and running a rapid course; or the
skin-condition and the systemic symptoms may be of grave and persistent
character.

#Give the treatment of dermatitis exfoliativa.#

General treatment is based upon indications, and externally soothing
applications, such as are employed in acute and subacute eczema, are to
be used.

#Lichen Planus.#

#What is lichen planus?#

Lichen planus is an inflammatory disease characterized by small, flat
and angular, smooth and shining, or scaly, discrete or confluent, red or
violaceous-red papules, having a distinctly papular or papulo-squamous
course, and attended with more or less itching.

#Describe the symptoms of lichen planus.#

The eruption, as a rule, begins slowly, usually showing itself upon the
extremities; the forearms, wrists and legs being favorite localities. It
may appear as one or more groups or in the form of short or long bands.
Occasionally its evolution is rapid and a considerable part of the
surface may be invaded. The lesions are pin-head to small pea-sized,
irregularly grouped or so closely crowded together as to form solid
patches; they are quadrangular or polygonal in shape, usually flat, with
central depression or umbilication, and are reddish or violaceous in
color. At first they have a glazed or shining appearance; later,
becoming slightly scaly, the scaliness being more marked where solid
patches have resulted. New papules may appear from time to time, the
older lesions disappearing and leaving persistent reddish or brownish
pigmentation. Exceptionally the eruption presents in bands or lines,
like rows of beads (_lichen moniliformis_). Very exceptionally a
vesicular or bleb tendency in some of the lesions has been noted;
doubtless, in most instances at least, this has been due to the arsenic
so generally administered in this disease. In rare instances lichen
planus lesions are also seen on the glans penis and on the buccal mucous
membrane. In some cases, especially in the region of the ankle, the
papules become quite large (_lichen planus hypertrophicus_), and in
occasional cases there is a tendency in some of the lesions or patches
to clear up centrally. There is, as a rule, considerable itch