RARE DISEASES

Evening Star, Issue 20320, 31 October 1929, Page 4

RARE DISEASES

PUZZLES FOR DOCTORS “ Lily rash ” is caused among flower farm workers in the Scilly Isles and Jersey, and the handling of tulip bulbs causes a _ special form of dermatitis, characterised by a splitting of the skin under the fingernail, with pain and general malaise. There is another form of dermatitis due to washing up dishes and plates with too much soda in the water, says a writer in the London ‘ Spectator.’ “Alah Jong itch” made its appearance during the short-lived craze for that intricate Chinese game. It was due to the frequent handling of boxes and trays finished with a lacquer in which was a highly poisonous extract of a plant called Rhus vernix. “ Railway cleaning, mopholders’ bursa ” is a painful swelling between the fingers that sometimes affects men who daily wash windows with mops, and ‘‘ wireless corns” have appeared on the ears of Americans who spend evening after evening month after month, year after year, with too tightly fitting radio earphones clamped on their heads. Another rare disease that often puzzles the doctors who attempt to diagnose it is “ violinist’s jaw.” This is a fibro-fatty pad, developed in response to repeated pressure, analogous to that seen on the shoulders of porters. It is situated exactly on the area of the skin which rests on the edge of the violin. Excessive card playing sometimes causes “ bridge eye, especially among women. They can read books and papers quite well with their usual glasses, but are apt to mistake spades tor clubs when glancing at cards thrown flat upon the table; so special glasses, adapted to the requisite angle of vision, are made by London opticians, and are in brisk demand among members of West End women’s bridge clubs.

The deaths of Rudolph Valentino and some other film stars are believed by Dr Lee, of Florida, and other eminent American doctors to have been, in reality, due to over-exposure to actinic rays, aggravated by intense studio arc lights. ‘‘ Every film star,” he declared, “is in similar danger,” and he added that the nervous irritability characteristic of many screen actors and actresses was the cumulative result of their exposure to the strong sunshine of the Californian hills where most outdoor scenes are ” shot,” and the ultra-violet rays of studio lamps.