Purpura.—­This is not strictly a disease, but a symptom.  This includes a group of affections characterized by hemorrhages into the skin.

Symptoms.—­There are hemorrhages into the skin, and this takes the form of small blood spots underneath the skin, (petechia) and spots like the bursting of a blood vessel shows vibices or ecchymoses.  The first are in small minute points and appear, as a rule, in the hair follicles and unlike the erythemas (redness) do not disappear upon pressure.  Another kind occurs as streaks, while the ecchymoses are larger, but similar in nature to the first kind.  They may be larger than a split pea, and they range from a deep red to a livid bluish tint.  They assume a yellowish brown, then a yellow color, as they fade away and finally disappear.  This eruption appears in a series of crops and the legs are the usual seat.

1.  Symptomatic Purpura. (a) Infectious.  Occurs in typhus fever, endocarditis, cerebro-spinal meningitis, typhoid fever, etc. (b) Toxic; from snake bites, iodide of potash, quinine, copaiba, bella donna, ergot, etc., and with jaundice. (c) Cachectic; with cancer, tuberculosis, leukaemia, false leukaemia, scurvy, etc. (d) Neurotic; with hysteria, neuralgia, and some organic disease. (e) Mechanical; due to violent effort and poor venous circulation.

2.  Type arthritic purpura. (a) Simple Purpura.  A mild form usually occurring in children, sometimes with pains in the joints, rarely any fever.  There is anemia, disturbance of the stomach and purpuric spots on the legs, often on the arms and trunks. (b) Rheumatic purpura; this usually occurs in men from twenty to forty years old.  There is usually pain and swelling of several joints, temperature 101 to 103 degrees, purpuric eruption chiefly on the legs and about the affected joints, often with hives and digestive disturbances:  (c) Henoch’s purpura; usually in children and is sometimes fatal.  There are recurrent joint pains and swelling, disturbances of the stomach and bowels, skin troubles resembling it, and hemorrhage from mucous membrane.

[254 Mothers’ remedies]

Purpura haemorrhagic.—­This is a severe form, usually seen in delicate girls.  The cause is unknown.

Symptoms.—­Weakness, extensive purpuric spots (small blood spots in the skin), eruption, hemorrhages from the mucous membranes which may cause secondary anemia, slight fever, slow clotting of the blood.  The duration is from ten to fourteen days.  Death may occur within a day in cases marked by profuse bleedings into the skin and prostration.

Treatment.—­Remove the causes.  Fresh air, food and tonics, etc.  This disease is serious and needs careful treatment from a physician.

Haemophilia.  “Bleeders.”—­This is a hereditary disorder characterized by a tendency to persistent bleeding, spontaneously or even after a slight injury.