Naevus

The spots are congenital; and they are not only hardly ever amenable to surgical treatment, but have in many cases been rendered much worse by such injudicious treatment. Some remarkable naevi reproduce upon the skin of the child while yet unborn the vivid impression made upon the mind of the mother. Another and more profound influence of the same kind, or one exerted in an earlier stage of1 pregnancy, results in actual deformities and monstrosities.

Naevi materni may be arranged in three distinct classes, in the order of their gravity.

1. Moles, the most common of all, whose character and harmlessness are well known, and which are generally attributed to some alteration in the structure of the rete mucosum.
2. Venous Aneurisms - Anastomosis of Venous Capilla ­ ries. - These form a dark-red circumscribed stain, which generally appears on one side of the face, and is sometimes of considerable extent. These "marks", which appear to be simple dilatations of the sub-cuticular capillary vessels, may increase in extent till puberty, and then remain stationary.
3. Aneurisms and Dilatations of the Arterial Capillaries.  - These form the most important of the naevi; they are apt to enlarge in after-life, especially when stimulated by external irritation, and they may give rise to dangerous hemorrhage if improperly meddled with. They form slightly elevated spots, with well-defined margin and a granular surface, which consists of an erectile vascular tissue. These granulated tumors, raised above the skin, may in fact be constituted of venous or of arterial vessels. In the former case they may be of a dark-blue or livid color; in the latter, of a brighter red.

   apt to enlarge in after-life, especially when stimulated by external irritation, and they may give rise to dangerous hemorrhage if improperly meddled with. They form slightly elevated spots, with well-defined margin and a granular surface, which consists of an erectile vascular tissue. These granulated tumors, raised above the skin, may in fact be constituted of venous or of arterial vessels. In the former case they may be of a dark-blue or livid color; in the latter, of a brighter red.