ECUADOB 464 ECZEMA been done to develop an industry in this product. Deposits of copper, lead, iron, and coal also occur, but are not worked. In the province of Cuenca valuable lodes of silver-bearing ore are known, but are not exploited. Quicksilver is said to ex- ist in the province of Loja. Careful prospecting of the mineral resources of Ecuador would doubtless disclose much natural wealth, but the difficulties and cost of transport have hitherto proved insurmountable obstacles to the practical development of the mining industry. Manufactures. — Manufacturing indus- try is confined within very small limits. It is represented by the chocolate manu- facturing concerns, some woolen and cotton textile mills on a comparatively limited scale, four sawmills, a biscuit factory, a brewery and ice factory in the city of Guayaquil, and a few soap fac- tories. It is now proposed to extend the manufacture of woolen and cotton goods, and for this purpose to utilize water to obtain the required power. The manu- I facture of fine straw hats is a na- tive industry in Ecuador, these hats being shipped abroad under the name of Panama and selling for high prices. Communications. — The roads in Ecua- dor are principally bridle-paths generally impassible in wet and winter weather. In 1908 a company formed in the United States completed the railroad (297 miles) from Guayaquil to Quito. There is also a Central R. R. from Manta to Santa Anna, 35 miles, and a road con- necting Bahia, Caracas and Quito, 168 miles. Other railroads are projected. The telegraph system covers 5,482 miles. There are six wireless stations. Education. — The educational system of the country has been greatly improved in recent years. In 1916 new courses of study were introduced in the primary schools and these were extended in 1918 to the high-school courses. Primary in- struction is free and obligatory for all children, beginning with six years. In 1919 there were 103 mixed schools, 241 primary schools, 122 grammar schools, 16 high schools, 385 fiscal schools, 57 municipal schools, and 40 private schools. In all these there was an enrolment of about 48,000. High-school instruction is given in the national colleges. Each of the provinces, with the exception of Esmeraldas, has one of these colleges. Religion.— The Roman Catholic, under the constitution, is the only form of re- ligion tolerated. Government. — The executive govern- ment (since Dec. 1906) is vested in a President, elected for four vears, who IS assisted by a Council of State of five members. The Congress is the legis- lative body, and consists of two Houses, one formed of senators, two for each province, the other of deputies, one for every 30,000 inhabitants, both elected by universal suffrage. The Congress has extensive privileges and cannot be dis- solved by the President. The seat of government is at Quito. In 1920 the estimated revenue was $9,997,830. The money unit is the sucre, equivalent to a 5-franc piece, but the coins of the United States, France, and Great Britain cir- culate. History. — Ecuador at the time of the conquest of Peru by the Spaniards formed part of the great empire of the Incas. It was erected first into a viceroyalty of Peru, then (from 1564 io 1718) into an independent presidency. In 1718 it be- came part of the presidency of New Granada. During the revolutionary war against Spain, Ecuador, along with the neighboring territories, secured its inde- pendence in 1822, and was ultimately erected into a separate republic in 1831. Of the present population, the aboriginal red face forms more than half; the rest are negro and Indian blood, and Span- ish Creoles or whites. The latter are the chief possessors of the land. Pop. 2,000,000. In April, 1920, an Italian military and commercial commission vis- ited the country. A tobacco monopoly was arranged for an Italian company in Ecuador, in consideration of which Italy undertook the construction of public works in the country. On Aug. 31, 1920, Dr. Jose Luis Tamayo was inaugurated president. ECZEMA (ek-ze'ma) , one of the com- monest of all dieases of the skin, and al- so the most variable in its manifestations. It may be acute or extremely chronic, may affect any portion of the skin, and may occur at any age from infancy to old age. In typical acute eczema the affected portion of skin is red, and is covered with numerous small papules, which speedily turn into vesicles. These may quickly dry up, but more commonly break, and discharge a clear, glutinous secretion, which hardens and forms scabs or crusts, or if copious keeps the surface in a moist "weeping" condition. In some cases the vesicles are replaced by pustules, and the discharge is partly pur- ulent. Chronic eczema may follow the acute form, or may arise without an acute stage. Here the skin is thickened and hard, and covered with crusts or scales; deep cracks are sometimes pres- ent, especially where the skin is sub- jected to much movement, as near the joints. One of the most prominent and impor- tant symptoms is itching of the part af- fected; it is never entirely absent, and
