Dermatology in Relation to Industrial Medicine

THIS is A VAST subject, even if one restricts oneself to conditions that might well be encountered in this region at the present time. My aim will therefore be to give a brief survey of the main features of common interest, and I look forward to gleaning much from all of you in the subsequent discussion, about methods of prevention that are practised in different industries and of the success that attends these measures. There is no question, in my mind, as to the value of these preventive measures, for one has only to contrast the relatively small numbers of industrial dermatitis cases seen in clinic practice with the unending stream of unfortunate women suffering from housewife's dermatitis to realise something of your contribution to the common weal. It is unfortunate that in dermatology the two most prevalent conditions, dermatitis and eczema, have for long given rise to confusion. This may be attributable firstly to an incomplete understanding of the pathogenisis of the two processes, secondly to an acceptance of the term allergy by many people as constituting a diagnostic label, and thirdly to the development by' dermatologists of terminologies which vary, not only from continent to continent, nor yet from country to country, but even from teaching school to teaching school. I think it would be well to define dermatitis as merely meaning an inflammation of the skin and as such it embraces manifold dermatoses including psoriasis, lichen planus, pityriasis rosea, etc. Industrial dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin resulting from the application of irritants encountered at work, and such irritants may be mechanical, e.g. friction, chemical resulting from contact with strong acids or alkalis, or many organic and inorganic substances, and physical as with the effect of heat or cold, electricity and radioactivity. These are irritants which, in adequate concentration and after sufficiently long exposure, will cause reactions on all.skins, resulting first in erythema and later in necrosis of the affected areas. The patient may complain of irritation in the early stages, and later of burning sensations and pain. On the other hand, eczema