It is becoming increasingly apparent that the epithelial, venous and lymphatic systems are closely related. Infection, beginning in any one system, may ultimately affect all three. In a case of varicose veins the skin and the subcutaneous tissues often become altered in an insidious fashion, so that for no apparent reason a peculiar disabling lesion appears and grows to alarming proportions. It is my purpose in this paper to trace this chronic disorder back to its source and to present a new mode of therapy for its relief.
The name lymphedema describes only the first stage of the disorder. The end-stage is fibrosis, and therefore the whole picture would be more aptly termed fibrolymphedema. Grossly the condition may be recognized in a case of varicose veins by the presence of a hardened, tender, brown to purplish area, usually located on the inner side of the lower half of the