IN PREVIOUS reports1 study was made of cutaneous diseases in patients observed by us who presented claims for compensation under the Pennsylvania law.
In these studies we classified actual causes into groups rather than emphasizing occupation in relation to cause or making the simplest of classifications, namely, division of responsible agents into chemical, physical and biologic ones. We believe it is preferable to emphasize actual causes, since attention is focused on these causes. Prevention and investigative measures are suggested, and teaching of the subject is facilitated.2
The cases previously reported total 2,297; of the patients 1,729 were male and 568 female. The diseases of 1,059 (46.1 per cent) were diagnosed as occupational in origin and those of 1,238 as nonoccupational.
The nonoccupational group was comprised of a variety of diseases of the skin. Diagnosis of the cutaneous lesion is the initial requirement in differentiating occupational from nonoccupational cause.