Almost two centuries ago Dr. Bassignot described an unusual skin disease of newborn infants in these words:
Seyne or Sedna, a small town in Provence is the theatre of a very peculiar disease, which attacks almost all the new born infants at that place. Some authors have spoken of it under the name of crinons or comedons; but it is known by the people of the country under the name of cees, a corruption of ceddes, a provincial term which signifies a bristle. It sometimes manifests itself within the space of twelve hours, sometimes. however, not till the end of fifteen days, or even a month.
The symptoms by which this disease is known, are a very considerable itching, which is augmented by the heat of the bed, and prevents the infant from sleeping; a perpetual agitation; an inability to suck, the child's tongue not being able to accommodate itself to the nipple; and, at last, the noise of its cries being diminished, which become hoarse, and are indeed almost extinguished. This last sign appears to be the most certain; and they in general judge of the severity of the disease by the degree to which the voice is extinguished, and by the weakness of the cries of the infant.
When, by these signs, the disease is known to be present, they proceed immediately to the cure. This consists in frictions, which are performed by the women of the country, and who are so much in the habit of treating this disease, that they do not in general call in the aid of any medical practitioner. These frictions are performed on different parts of the body, according to the state of the disease that is present. And they distinguish these stages of it, which are sometimes very distinct, sometimes united.
In the first, the diminution of the noise in crying is conjoined with a total incapability of sucking. This required friction at the upper part of the sternum, on the fore and back parts of the neck, on the cheeks towards the angle of the inferior jaw, and on the temples. In the second state of the disease, the infant still enjoys a certain facility in moving the tongue, without, however, being able properly to seize the nipple; when the arms are set at liberty they are extended, the fingers are spread out with a considerable degree of tension, or the hand is firmly clenched. This state requires friction of the fore-arm, from the shoulder to the wrist. The third stage is distinguished merely by a diminution of the cries; then frictions are directed to the arms, the shoulders, the back, and even to the calves of the legs; which probably, as well as the hands, demonstrate the existence of crinons in these parts, by some particular movement, but which has not yet been sufficiently attended to.
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