172 REVIEW — TROPICAL MEDICINE, ETC. 



Skin Prowazek' has suggested the title Chlamydozoa to include the pathogenic micro- 



Diseases— organisms said to be the cause of a group of maladies, i.e. variola, vaccinia, scarlatina, 

 eantinued hydrophobia, avian plague, trachoma, molluscum contagiosum, contagious epitheliomas of 



birds, and some others. They are intracellular microbes and approach the protozoa in 



certain particulars. 



Castellani- discusses the tropical forms of pityriasis versicolor. Several forms exist, 

 the two chief being the yellow and the black. The yellow, Pityriasis versicolor flava is the 

 commonest. A Pityriasis alba also occurs, in which the fungus is very abundant. It is 

 easily cured, unlike flava. Pityriasis nigra usually attacks natives alone. Castellani terms 

 the fungus of P. flava, Microsporon tropiciim, and gives a drawing of it as of M. mausoni, the 

 fungus found in P. nigra. He called the fungus of P. alba, M. macfadyeni. Its mycelium 

 and spores are of very small dimensions. He succeeded in growing M. mansoni, and gives 

 its cultural characteristics on various media. What is said regarding prognosis and 

 treatment may be quoted ; — 



None of the tropical forms of Pityriasis versicolor show any tendency to spontaneous 

 cure. All the forms are very chronic and may last for life. The forms yielding most 

 readily to treatment are Pityriasis nigra and Pityriasis alba ; the most obstinate is Pityriasis 

 flava. For Pityriasis nigra and alba, the usual antiparasitic lotions and ointments answer 

 well ; a salicylic spirit lotion (4 per cent.) followed by a mild mercurial ointment as, for 

 example, white precipitate, gr. 10 to gr. 15 to the ounce of vaseline, gives good results. 

 Pityriasis flava is much more difBcult to deal with ; turpentine applied every day and 

 followed by a beta-naphthol or epicarin ointment is often successful, but the treatment 

 must be continued for months. It is to be noted that in several cases of Pityriasis flava 

 the fungus has apparently a deep, permanent disturbing action on the pigmentation 

 processes of the skin, because even where the fungus has been destroyed the patches remain 

 of lighter colour than the surrounding skin for a long time, though ultimately they become 

 normally pigmented. 



One knows next to nothing regarding these infective skin conditions in the Sudan. 

 Probably the Northern Sudan has so dry a climate that their development and growth are 

 not favoured. This is one of the many subjects on which information is desired. 



While prickly heat (miliaria) does not frequently afflict residents in Khartoum, I under- 

 stand that sometimes it causes much suffering amongst those stationed in the more humid 

 southern regions of the Sudan. 



The following prophylactic treatment^ niay, therefore, be noted : — 



Wear thin, light woollen garments next the skin, expose the body to heat as little as 

 possible, avoid constipation, and apply the following lotion locally : — ■ 



Acidi carbolici, g ss 



Acidi boracis, 5 1 



Zinci oxidi, 5 iss 



Glycerini, 3 ii 



Alcoholis, 3 ii 



Aquae q.s. ad. 3 vi 



and a dusting powder consisting of — ■ 



Magnesii carb., acidi borici, pulv. amyli, etc. aa 3 ii- 

 When the entire body is involved, bran, starch or alkaline baths are indicated. Hyde 

 recommends : — 



Acidi carbolici, 5 i 



Glycerini, 5 ii 



Mentholis, 5 i 



Sp. vin. rectif., 5 i 



Aquae q.s. ad. 5 viii 



as a local application. 



Peai-se^ believes that in prickly heat the sebaceous glands are primarily at fault, and 

 states that their own secretion causes an acute obstruction which then is secondarily 



' Prowazek, S. (April 30th, 1908), " Chlamydozoa." Bidl. de VInstitut Pasteur, Vol. VI. 



« Castellani, A. (February 15th, 1907), "Observations on Tropical Forms of Pityriasis Versicolor." Journal 

 of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 



= Quoted in Journal of Tropical Afedicine and Hygiene, August Ist, 1906, p. 241. 



* Pcarse, T. F. (May 23rd, 1908). Lancet, p. 1489. 



