CIII. KAPOSI'S VARICELLIFORM ERUPTION

Abstract

Five cases have been observed the features of which conform to the details of the varicelliform eruption as described by Kaposi.¹ Because of the supposed rarity of this disease and the disagreement concerning its causation and classification, a report and a discussion of these cases were deemed worth while. Some authors consider the disease to be a form of eczema vaccinatum; one writer² recently proposed a new title, dermatitis vaccinica, to include all the allied processes, namely, eczema vaccinatum, generalized vaccinia, pustulosis acuta varioliformis³ and Kaposi's varicelliform eruption. Study of these 5 cases leads us to believe that this striking eruption is unique and deserves to maintain its identity as a separate disease. Investigation indicates that the etiologic agent is a virus, probably a strain of the virus of herpes simplex. REPORT OF CASES Case 1.—M. L., a 20 year old