LUPUS vulgaris is relatively rare in the United States. In Europe the disease is common, and "lupus institutes" have been established in Denmark, Germany and Austria. In these institutes lupus vulgaris is treated conservatively with phototherapy (Finsen light), and considerable success has been reported with this treatment.1 The cure of lupus vulgaris with phototherapy, however, requires months or years of treatment and special expensive efficient apparatus. Phototherapy is not a practicable treatment for lupus vulgaris in the United States because of the expense involved and the requirement of special hospital facilities. These adverse requirements of phototherapy have encouraged investigators in both Europe and the United States to seek a more rapid and less costly type of local treatment. Among the local types of treatment employed for lupus vulgaris are caustic chemicals,2 scarificacation,3 refrigeration,4 electrocoagulation,5 steam,6 corn starch injections7 and surgical excision followed by