Etiology

The cause of this disease is yet to be determined. From what is known concerning the functional disturbances and trophic changes that occur in the development of its lesions, and their appearances in the hyper-trophic and atrophic stages, the disease is thought to be due to some disorder of the nervous system, and probably of tropho-neurotic nature. Its occurrence has been noted mostly in females, and is at times attended with symptoms of more or less nervous debility. Scleroderma, in some essential respects, resembles morphoea, and inferentially is very likely of a similar origin. Indeed, some view morphoea as merely a localized form of scleroderma.