Sensitivity to rubber materials an analysis of one hundred twenty-five cases of eruptions proved to be caused by rubber articles

THE USES of rubber have increased enormously since Goodyear, as the legend goes, tossed a piece of the raw material on a hot stove and was astounded at the bouncing result. By now rubber is indispensable for modern living and comfort, but, like many another invaluable thing, it has some hazards. One of these is its capacity to sensitize the human skin sometimes and then to provoke eczematous eruptions upon subsequent contact. Many sporadic cases of allergic eczematous contact-type dermatitis from rubber products and even some fairly large series of cases have been reported in the past. 1 The reasons for publishing this paper on the subject are as follows: 1. It seems to us that the absolute number of cases of sensitivity to rubber materials and of eruptions from them is growing huge. 2. So large a series as this is instructive of the variety of uses of rubber