HISTORICAL SKETCH
In 1884, F. Balzer1 made a clinical and histologic study of a case which presented unusual and unique characters not theretofore described. The most conspicuous feature of the disease was its clinical resemblance to xanthoma, or xanthelasma, and its histologic changes which did not suggest the pathology of that condition. Fortunately, a complete and careful study of the patient was made both before and after death, so that there can be no question as to the identity of the disease.In 1889, Chauffard reported a case as xanthelasma disseminatum et symmetricum. The patient was later examined and observations were published by Besnier and Doyen. Hallopeau and Lafitte also had the opportunity of studying the same patient.In 1896, it fell to Darier's2 lot to study the same patient. For the first time, histologic examinations were made, and the similarity to Balzer's case was recognized. Darier coined