Considerable interest exists in the allergic cutaneous manifestation designated as "fixed eruption." The facilities available at a large dermatologic free clinic made it practicable to study the incidence of this form of dermatitis. Since antipyrine and phenolphthalein, among other drugs, have been reported as possible causes of such exanthems,1 and at times cross sensitivity had been noted between the two substances, these drugs were selected as test materials. It was also the aim of this investigation to establish the rate of occurrence of fixed eruptions resulting from the ingestion of these substances in comparison with the number of drug eruptions due to other influences.
All suitable patients on the dermatologic service were exposed to both drugs with three purposes in view: (1) to determine to what extent idiosyncrasy to either or both drugs exists; (2) to elicit the possibility of cross sensitization between the two drugs, and