'Rusters'. The corrosive action of palmar sweat: I. Sodium chloride in sweat.

Sweat from 8 'rusters' and 8 control persons was examined for its 
sodium concentration. Sweating was induced by iontophoresis of pilocarpine on the 
distal forearm. In no case did the concentrations exceed the normal 
upper limit for this procedure, and no difference was found between 
the two groups. In this way the study failed to confirm 
earlier reports of elevated sodium chloride concentrations in sweat from 'rusters'. 
Proposals of a relationship between 'rusters' and patients with pancreatic cystic 
fibrosis were not substantiated. Hyperhidrosis of the palms and volar surfaces 
of the fingers was present in all 'rusters'. This seemed to 
be the main cause of the corrosive tendency, and patients referred 
for palmar hyperhidrosis were found to produce corrosion similar to the 
'rusters'. Topical application of aluminium chloride hexahydrate in a 25% solution 
in absolute ethyl alcohol proved effective against both hyperhidrosis and the 
corrosive tendency. 