Wax moulage, feigned eruption (Dermatitis Artefacta) left arm
Maker
Herman Fermor Lawrence (b.1863, d.1936)
Date
Circa 1908
Description
This early 20th century wax moulage was created by Dr Herman Lawrence, the first dermatologist of Melbourne’s St. Vincent’s Hospital. From Lawrence's description: "During the last two years, there has been a history of painful erythematous spots on patches, irregular in shape and size, later on tending to form sloughs followed by ulceration and healing with the formation of well-marked hyperbropic cicatrices. I exhibited the patient from whom this moulage was made, at the Australian Medical Congress, Melbourne 1908. This patient was admitted to St Vincent's Hospital and arm was dressed with glyce-gelatine, in order to prevent the patient producing lesions. Patient was a strong healthy young woman. She admitted her foolishess and has been quite well since. There was a history of injury to the arm by burning before the artificial means were introduced. Feigned eruptions are generally produced with the idea of exciting sympathy, or for the purpose of getting exeruption from work. They have occured in my work about 1 in every 1000 cases. Lesions were unilateral (left arm only)". Lawrence donated his moulages to the University of Melbourne in 1919-1920.
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