Chromidrosis

This term signifies- colored perspiration, a condition by no means common. The perspiration may be changed to a black, a blue, a red, or a green color in certain cases. The black (melanidrosis) and the blue (cyanidrosis) varieties of perspiration are probably the same in nature, the substance giving the color being identical, but varying in hue in the two cases.

It generally occurs in hypochondriacs, or in women with uterine disorders of different kinds. It is seen as a symmetrical affection attacking mostly the eyelids, and the lower one chiefly, but in other instances and more rarely the upper eyelid, the cheeks, the forehead, the sides of the nose, the breast, the stomach, and the hands. It consists of an oozing of black matter which can be wiped away, but only as a rule to quickly reappear. The discolored secretion is excited by grief, by emotions, by fright, and the like, it is said.



The disease may be, and often is, simulated. But there appears to be no doubt that there is a real chromidrosis. The coloring matter is probably indican, which is, as it normally exists, colorless, and occurs pathologically in human urine. The indican is believed to be secreted by the sweat glands in a colorless state, and to be acted-tipon by the air so as to be oxidized blue, or brown, or blackish, as the case may be.