The Deep Mycoses (Essentially or Potentially Systemic) L89 



was actinomycosis, but no granules could be found in the pus From an un- 

 ruptured lesion. There was no difficulty in growing an aerobic Actinomyces. 



BIBLIOGB \riiv 



Gammel, |. A.: Actinomycosis withoui granules, \ivli. Dermat. & Syph. 29:287, L934. 



Ci v \\ . II.: Nocardiosis cutis resembling sporotrichosis, Arch. Dermat. & Syph. 2:137, 1920. 



— . \m> III i \inoi.i). T. H.: Ntnanliosis cutis gangrenosa, \n h. Dermat. c\ Syph. 27:224, 



1933. 

 I. win. J, 11.: Personal communication. 



4. SPOROTRICHOSIS 



While this disease was thought to be more prevalent in France and in 

 the Mississippi Valley than elsewhere, the largest number of cases lias 

 been reported from South Africa. Pijper and Pullinger in 1927 described 

 an outbreak of sporotrichosis affecting 14 native miners working in one 

 gold mine. In 1941, Dangerfield and Gear reported 74 cases occurring in 

 workers in two Witwatersrand gold mines. A year later du Toit added 

 650 eases to the total for South Africa, when he reported an epidemic 

 occurring in a shaft where about 2,500 native workers were emploved. 

 Du Toit further mentioned that many other cases had not been recognized 

 in other gold mines and have not been recorded. Schenck in 1898 first 

 described the disease in this country. Smith classed the organism as a 

 member of the genus Sporotrichum. A few more than 200 instances of the 

 infection have been recorded in this country, and only five cases in which 

 the diagnosis was proved have been reported from New York. The reports 

 of de Beurmann, Ruediger, Meyer, Foerster and du Toit may be cited 

 as particularly valuable for reference. 



(a) Period of incubation.— This is usually in the neighborhood of one 

 week. It may vary from three days to three weeks (Dangerfield and Gear). 



(b) Etiology.— While several members of the genus Sporotrichum have 

 been considered of pathogenic significance, S. schencki seems to be of 

 predominant importance in this country. Numerous species of Sporotrichum 

 are common saprophytes, being found on many types of vegetation in all 

 parts of the world. They are also found in the excreta of human and animal 

 carriers. Sporotrichum schencki has been inoculated successfully on carna- 

 tions (Benhain and Kesten), and the work of Foerster indicated that the 

 barberry shrub is of importance as an intermediary host. Sphagnum moss 

 was thought to be the residual focus for the Sporotrichum in cases of six 

 florists (Gastineau, Spolyar and Haynes). There is frequently a report of 

 local injury or trauma with a thorn, cactus or briar. De Beurmann has 

 shown that the organism may permeate the intact intestinal mucosa, and 

 the infection thus may be contracted through the eating of contaminated 



