Allergic eczema in its various phases of sensitization to contact substances, food, inhalants, bacteria and fungi has detracted interest from other forms of eczematous dermatitis which could not be explained by an allergic mechanism. Nummular eczema is such an entity, known since Devergie1 first described it. It was later called neurotic eczema by Brocq and was described by Pollitzer2 as "recurrent eczematoid affection of the hands." Chipman3 presented a clearcut clinical picture and discussed the history and differential diagnosis. In the discussion of Chipman's paper, Pollitzer expressed his view and called the eruption sui generis and worthy of investigation. Becker and Obermayer,4 in their truly modern book, called nummular eczema a type of exudative neurodermatitis of Kreibich. These authors referred justly to the misunderstandings which have beset dermatologists in the discussion of eczema. CLINICAL PICTURE The name nummular eczema denotes the appearance of the discrete, coin-shaped