IN 1860 Hebra described an acute illness of uniformly good prognosis characterised by the appearance of a polymorphic eruption which affected particularly the extensor surfaces of the extremities and the sides of the face. He named the condition "erythema multiforme exsudativum ". The lesions consisted of a mixture of irregularlyshaped areas of erythema, of papules, of urticaria, and sometimes of wsicles and bullae. Bazin (1862) recognised the occurrence of prodrornal constitutional symptoms and oral lesions, which were described in detail by Quinquaud (1882). I n 1896 von Diiring gave a comprehensive account of the conjunctivitis which is a common feature of the condition. The occasional association of ulceration of the genitalia, of urethritis and of involvement of the upper respiratory tract were also noted from time to time.Stevens and Johnson (1922), in a paper entitled " A new eruptive fever associated with stomatitis ", described a severe prostrating febrile illness of childhood in which the cardinal features were a generdised multiform eruption, haemorrhagic atomatitis and severe ocular complications. It is now widely held that this and other closely related syndromes, e.g. " ectodermose erosive plurioriikielle "