Chronic skin disease of an uncertain nature

Watercolour drawing of the face of a boy showing a chronic skin disease of uncertain nature. The subject was a boy of 12 years. Three years previously an irritating eruption, attributed to a salt-water bath appeared upon his trunk. This eruption was followed by a succession of 'boils'. The face was affected one year after the first appearance of the skin lesion. During the patient's residence in the Hospital the disease showed periodical exacerbations, accompanied by considerable constitutional disturbance. Microscopic examination failed to reveal any micro-organisms in the affected areas of skin. Injections of tuberculin, for diagnostic purposes, were given on several occasions, without conclusive results.