Calcium necrosis of the skin.

Case Record J. C. W., while engaged in spraying in a South Wales coal mine, allowed some of the solution to contaminate his skin. Immediately af.er exposure, which lasted 8 hours, he experienced burning pain accompanied by the formation of 'wheals' on the upper eyelids, fore-arms, and thighs. Similar effects were noticed on his hands and legs, where abrasions occurred during the work, those on the legs being due to friction from the tops of his rubber boots. Eleven days later the lesions *on the legs and hands broke down. When first examined 16 days after exposure there were large sloughing ulcers with raised, dark red edges running transversely across -the upper parts of both legs and smaller round ones on the backs of both hands, with crusts which, when removed, left deep pits. The lesions on the eyelids, forearms, and -thighs were not ulcerated but consisted of pearly yellow, raised spots measuring 1-2 mm., some of them round and others shaped like splashes. These lesions have been observed for over 5 months. The ulcers were indolent, and epithelialization was not completed until after 13 weeks, but from the seventh week onwards those on the legs were outlined by narrow zones of yellow discolouration of the deeper tissues. The -appearance of the non-ulcerated lesions did not change for the first 4 months, but they finally disappeared. Another man who was engaged in the same work noticed burning and redness at the sites of contact immediately after exposure. He alleged that he then washed very thoroughly with soap and that the effects disappeared in about a week.