390 MEDICAL MYCOLOGY 



Roberts (1894) tried unsuccessfully to demonstrate a "kero- 

 lvtic" enzyme bv growing certain species on hairs as a substrate. 

 Later Tate (1929a) failed to demonstrate a keratin-cleaving 

 enzvme in Trichophyton radiolatum, T. tonsurans, Microsporuiu 

 lanosum, M. audouini, or Achorion schoenleini. All species were 

 capable of utilizing maltose, starch, casein, and tributyin and, 

 except for T. tonsurans, urea. None, however, produced peptase, 

 invertase, lactase, zymase, and inulase. 



Goddard (1934), employing Trichophyton interdigitale and 

 Microsporia!! lauosuiu, found that both showed increased growth 

 in media containing glucose, mannose, fructose, and arabinose. 

 There was a slight increase with sucrose, but not with lactose. 

 Casein and peptone were hydrolyzed to amino acid and ammonia, 

 with a sparing action in the presence of glucose. 



The production of pigments among Trichophytoneae and the 

 properties of these pigments have been given consideration by 

 Tate (1929a) and others. Such species as Trichophyton acumi- 

 natum, T. magnini, T. vinosnm, Sabouraudites ruber, and 5. radio- 

 latus form red to reddish brown pigments, which are soluble in 

 dilute acids and acid alcohol. In these solvents the color is yellow, 

 changing to a reddish hue if alkali is added. Reversal of 'color 

 change may be accomplished repeatedly. Evidence indicates that 

 these are anthracene pigments like those in Physcia and certain 

 other lichens. 



IMPLICATIONS 



Medical mycology is still in its infancy. This conclusion is 

 evident to staff members of hospitals where there are practitioners 

 trained to recognize and diagnose mycoses. In hospitals not so 

 staffed the etiologic role of fungi is not even suspected in many 

 instances. This condition will continue to exist until this subject 

 receives proper consideration in the curricula of medical schools. 



A "run-of-the-mine" mycologist could not expect to contribute 

 materially to medical mycology. To become a medical mycolo- 

 gist, he should supplement his training by the usual courses re- 

 quired for a degree in medicine, with additional special training in 

 bacteriology, biochemistry, pathology, and immunology. Finally, 

 his laboratory should be so located as to insure ready contact 

 with the clinical aspects of fungus diseases. 



