Pathol. [Gr. ἔκξεμα, f. ἐκζέ-ειν, f. ἐκ out + ζέ-ειν to boil.] ‘An acute, or chronic, non-contagious, simple inflammation of the skin, characterized by the presence of itching papules and vesicles which discharge a serous fluid, or dry up’ (Syd. Soc. Lex.). There are many kinds of eczema; a form occurring in cattle (E. epizooticum), is known as ‘the foot and mouth disease.’
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Eczema, a name given, by the antient physicians, to any fiery pustule on the skin.
1884. St. James’s Gaz., 24 April, 5. Animals … may communicate disease … though … not suffering from … eczema themselves.
Hence Eczematous a., Eczematously adv.
1869. Pall Mall Gaz., 19 Oct., 4/1. The children of a family … drank the milk [from a cow having the foot-and-mouth disease] undiluted, and are now suffering from an eczematous condition of the lips, tongue, and palate.
1876. Duhring, Dis. Skin, 165. The eczematously diseased tissues.
