Abstract
-The petechiodermographic pattern characteristic to each of the four diseases was studied. Individuals with the peptic ulcer had "rise areas" suggestive, within limits, of a local vasodilatation, frequently in skin areas lateral to D7-D8 spinous process. Individuals with the "abdominal neurosis" had "rise areas" frequently in skin areas lateral to D10-L4 spinous process. Regarding the neurocirculatory asthenia the evidence was not strong, but data indirectly suggested the cranialward concentration of aberrant areas in this condition. Concerning the essential hypertension the evidence was again not strong, but data were suggestive of the presence of localized vasoconstriction in skin areas of lower thoracic to upper lumbar segments. The authors also examined the effect of autonomic drugs on the general "capillary fragility" and investigated possible relations between the gastrointestinal motility (as an index of vagal activity) and the general "capillary fragility". No simple "laws" could be found to govern the "capillary fragility", but the observed variations in "capillary fragility" in a small number of cases suggested that the cutaneous vasodilatation was the possible cause of increased "capillary fragility" at least in some cases.
