132 An Introduction to Medical Mycology 



Because it is apt to produce secondary dermatitis, its use is somewhat 

 restricted. When considerable inflammation is present, only a limited por- 

 tion of the skin should be treated, so that if the condition is made worse, 

 little harm is done. 



4. The following prescription is usually well tolerated on the glabrous 

 skin : 



Sulfur 6 per cent 



Salicylic acid 3 per cent 



Hydrous wool fat, and , 



Petrolatum aa p.e. 



The strength of both active ingredients may also be modified. 



5. Mercurial products are mentioned because in vitro they show good 

 restraining and fungicidal powers, although in clinical use they are 

 rather disappointing. Phenyl mercuric nitrate provides an exception and 

 at times is a useful fungicide. Levine found that it is best used in an oint- 

 ment base in dilution of 1:1,500, when it is not a primary irritant. 



6. Applied and allowed to dry on the affected skin, the following prep- 

 aration has the advantage of being clean, and on the fortunate patient in 

 whom pruritus is not induced it usually has a good clinical effect. It may 

 be tried on vesicular lesions with caution. 



Thymol 1 per cent 



Salicylic acid 3 per cent 



Alcohol (90 per cent) q.s. 



7. An aqueous solution of gentian violet ( 1 per cent ) has been mentioned 

 as valuable when there is marked inflammation. It may also be painted on 

 chronic soggy intertrigos (some of which are due to M. albicans). There 

 is little penetrating power, and it is not suitable for the treatment of areas 

 of hyperkeratosis. 



8. Another paint, first described by and named after Castellani, is some- 

 what irritating and must not be used on an acutely inflamed surface. 

 It is effective as a fungicide and also possesses some keratolytic action. 



Saturated solution of basic fuchsin 10 



Aqueous solution of phenol ( 5 per cent ) 100 



Boric acid 1 



Acetone 5 



Resorcinol 10 



Add the basic fuchsin to the solution of phenol and filter. Add the boric- 

 acid, after two hours the acetone and after two more hours the resorcinol. 

 The solution should be kept in a dark bottle. 



9. In many instances, particularly if the patient is working, it is im- 

 possible or inadvisable to have an ointment on the skin during the day. 

 In this case a bath may be taken in the morning, followed by a liberal 

 application of this powder. 



