CHAPTER XXVIII 



Testing the Fungistatic and Fungicidal 

 Power of Drugs and Chemicals 



WE HAVE previously mentioned that the therapy of the mycoses is 

 not entirely satisfactory. The reason for the efficacy of certain meth- 

 ods of treatment with certain types of mycoses and the lack of effect with 

 other types has not been satisfactorily explained. We believe that biologic- 

 processes initiated by the invasion of the skin by some species of fungi 

 determine the response to therapy, the nature of the local treatment in 

 such cases being unimportant so long as the skin is not irritated. When 

 sensitization of the skin is lacking, there is little tendency to spontaneous 

 cine. Finding dings for the effective treatment of such infections offers a 

 challenge which is engaging the attention of numerous investigators. 

 Since the development of sensitivity of the skin and of immunity is not yet 

 a practical therapeutic procedure, the testing of drugs and chemicals in 

 the hope of finding potent fungicides will continue. 



During the past few years particular emphasis has centered on the fatty 

 acids. It has long been known that the acid mantle of the skin has a pro- 

 tective action against bacteria and fungi. Peck and his associates demon- 

 strated that certain fatty acids found in human sweat were effective anti- 

 fungal agents. 



1. TESTING FUNGISTATIC POWER 



(a) Method of Schamberc, and Kolmer.— A tube of dextrose agar is 

 melted, and exactly 4 cc. of the agar is placed in a clean tube. The accu- 

 rately diluted drug is added (in aqueous solution if possible). The pledget 

 of cotton is replaced, the tube is sterilized in the autoclave, and the tube 

 is slanted. The strain ot fungus to be tested should be freshly isolated. 

 After the medium has been seeded the tube is incubated at room temper- 

 ature. A number of dilutions of the drug should be used, and each test 



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