Preface to the Third Edition 



IN THE nine years since the first edition of this book was presented (with 

 some temerity), there has been a considerable advance in the knowledge 

 of fungous disease. Many more workers are now engaged in either part-time 

 or full-time research in this branch of medicine. The knowledge of fungous 

 disease has been more generally disseminated and physicians, particularly 

 dermatologists, have become proficient in the laboratory diagnosis of the 

 various fungous diseases. It is heartening to see that clinical mycology has 

 awakened such an interest among physicians. A glance through the program 

 of almost any regional or national dermatologic meeting will disclose one 

 or more papers of merit on topics related to the mycoses. There are fewer 

 and fewer reports of cases without careful laboratory confirmation. This 

 would indicate that mycology is an important and practical subject. It is 

 hoped that in the revision of the text for this third edition, the many ad- 

 vances which have occurred since 1943 have been sufficiently abstracted 

 without adding too greatly to the length of the book. The main purpose of 

 the book, as its title implies, is to serve as a primer. It does not pretend to 

 include all the many controversial details and involved technical aspects 

 of the subject. 



The general plan of the book has been retained. The contents are divided 

 into two parts. The first deals with the clinical, theoretical and experimental 

 aspects of the subject; the second outlines the laboratory procedures useful 

 in examining a patient suspected of having one of the various mycoses. The 

 characteristics and habits of the habitual fungous parasites are described. 

 An attempt is made to emphasize important phases of mycology, the com- 

 mon diseases receiving more attention than the rare ones. Since the patho- 

 genic flora varies in different parts of the world, our emphasis on certain 

 fungi as important in New York may not apply to the same degree in other 

 localities. The bibliography is not a complete compilation. It contains articles 

 which we think are important for their originality and their value in teach- 



