Tóm tắt

Man is a composite being. We have the skeletal man; g Qthe muscular man; the arterial man; the nervous man; the venous man; and enclosing and protecting all these 0the skin or outer man. This outer man is the one in whom we all take a greater or lesser pride; the one that receives the greatest amount of attention; the one that more pains are taken to l:)eautify and adorn than all the others; the one in which any imperfection is soonest noticed, and for which relief is most promptly sought. The physician who can soonest remove the disfiguring blemishes, heal diseased conditions, smooth and beautify the skin is the one whose praises are the loudest proclaimed by the gratified patient. In no other department of medical science is a reputation so readily made as in the department of dermatology, for the reason that patients can speedily judge whether the physician is likely to do them good or harm. What not to do in treating skin diseases is an important thing to know. The physician must have a thorough knowledge of the general course and behaviour of skin di.seases, and it is essential that he should be proficient in the principles of general medicine, in order that he may treat affections of the skin intelligently and successfully. The reason for this statement will become apparent as we study the etiology of the various lesions.