Pemphigus

(pern' -fig-us). pholyx; Bladder-tetter; an inflammatory disease of the skin characterized by the formation of variously sized blebs that appear in succe ive crops, occasionally also on the mucous membranes. The acute form is contagious and is most frequent in infants (P. neon a to rum);in adults recovery may take place, although there is an acute form that sometimes proves fatal. The acute form of the disease seems to be infectious; microorganisms, especially a diplococcus, have been found in the fluid of the blebs. Some cases of pemphigus appear to be neurotic in origin. P. acutus, the acute form of the disease. P. benign us. See P. vulgar is. P. cachecticorum, P. cachectic us, pemphigus occurring in cachectic persons. P. chronic us. See P. vulgar is. P. circinatus. See Ilydroa her pet i for me. P. contagiosus, Epidemic Pemphigus; a variety that occurs in epidemics, invariably in children. P. contagiosus tropic us, an epidemic form occurring only in the tropics, and appearing in a diffuse or infantile and an axillary or adult form. P. diphtheritic us, a form in which yellow forms at the bases of the blebs. P. diutinus. See P. vulgar is. P., Epidemic. See P. contagiosus. P. foliaceus, a rare form in which the blebs are flaccid, with puri form contents, and soon rupture. The disease spreads slowly but surely, and the whole body eventually becomes involved. The mucous membranes may also be affected. The patient usually dies in an exhausted typhoid condition. P. gangraenosus, a variety in which the inflammatory proce is intense and superficial, or deep sloughs form. See also Dermatitis gangrcenosus infantum. P. gyratus, pemphigus in which the blebs are arranged in circular lines. P. haemorrhagic us, Purpura bullosa; pemphigus attended with hemorrhage into the bullae, varying in amount from enough to impart a mere pink tint to the serum up to black. P. hysteric us. See P. pruriginosus. P. leprosus, the bullous eruption of leprosy. P. local is. See P. solitarius. P. major. Synonym of P. vulgar is. P. malign us. See P. pruriginosus. P. medic a mentos us, pemphigus due to the administration of a drug. P. neon a to rum. See Pemphigus. P. pruriginosus, a form a ociated with severe itching, purulent contents of the bullae, and the appearance of wheals. From the scratching, eczema, ecthyma and other forms of dermatitis are produced. The patient becoim hausted from lo of sleep, and a fatal i ue may result.