An acute, subacute or chronic inflammatory disease, characterized in the beginning by the appearance of erythema, papules, vesicles or pustules, or a combination of these lesions, with a variable amount of infiltration and thickening, terminating either in discharge with the formation of crusts, in absorption, or in desquamation, and accompanied by more or less intense itching and a feeling of heat or burning. #What are the several primary types of eczema?# Erythematous, papular, vesicular and pustular; all cases begin as one or more of these types, but not infrequently lose these characters and develop into the common clinical or secondary types--eczema rubrum and eczema squamosum. [Illustration: Fig. 20. Papular Eczema (leg).] #What other types are met with clinically?# Eczema rubrum, eczema squamosum, eczema fissum, eczema sclerosum and eczema verrucosum. Eczema seborrhoicum is probably a closely allied disease, occupying a middle position between ordinary eczema and seborrh[oe]a. #Describe the symptoms of erythematous eczema.# Erythematous eczema (_eczema erythematosum_) begins as one or more small or large, irregularly outlined hyperaemic macules or patches, with or without slight or marked swelling, and with more or less itching or burning. At first it may be ill-defined, but it tends to spread and its features to become more pronounced. It may be limited to a certain region, or it may be more or less general. When fully developed, the skin is harsh and dry, of a mottled, reddish or violaceous color, thickened, infiltrated and usually slightly scaly, with, at times, a tendency toward the formation of oozing areas. Punctate and linear scratch-marks may usually be seen scattered over the affected region. [Illustration: Fig. 21. Eczema Rubrum.] Its most common site is the face, but it is not infrequent upon other parts. #What course does erythematous eczema pursue?# It tends to chronicity, continuing as the erythematous form, or the skin may become considerably thickened and markedly scaly, constituting eczema squamosum; or a moist oozing surface, with more or less crusting, may take its place--eczema rubrum. #Describe the symptoms of papular eczema.# Papular eczema (_eczema papulosum_) is characterized by the appearance, usually in numbers, of discrete, aggregated or closely-crowded, reddish, pin-head-sized acuminated or rounded papules. Vesicles and vesico-papules are often intermingled. The itching is commonly intense, as often attested by the presence of scratch-marks and blood crusts. [Illustration: Fig. 22. Eczema Squamosum et tissum.] It is seen most frequently upon the extremities, especially the flexor surfaces. #What course does papular eczema pursue?# The lesions tend, sooner or later, to disappear, but are usually replaced by others, the disease thus persisting for weeks or months; in places where closely crowded, a solid, thickened, scaly sheet of eruption may result--eczema squamosum.