300 



MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



Paris discovered the hyphae of the fungus and Malcolm Morris the spore-like 

 bodies. Behrend in 1890 succeeded in cultivating the fungus. 



Sporotrichum tonsurans. Barber's Itch 



Hyphae slender 1.5-2 M in diameter, straight, undulated, dichotomous, septate 

 or non-septate, penetrate the hair follicles forming a matted mycelium, small 

 pustules and scabs ; in places devoid of hairs it forms red, scaly spots, discs 

 and circles. The fungus is found between the uppermost layers of the epidermis 

 just beneath the corneous stratum ; the conidia are small, spherical or elliptical, 

 sharply defined 2-3 M in diameter; the spore masses surround the root of the 

 hair and are frequently densely and closely arranged like beads ; in culture 

 media like agar, a many-rayed fungus occurs, the color varies with the medium, 

 yellow, Bismark brown, cherry red, violet, rose, brown, blackish brown ; gelatine 

 liquefied; spores swell after a few hours and produce 1-2 germ tubes from a 

 single spore ; mycelium with occasional swellings, ectospores formed in 60-96 

 hours, also small, branched air hyphae; small conidia l.S-3/* in diameter borne 

 on short, lateral branches. The Botrytis-like spores rise on the long, thin, 

 curved air hyphae. Oidium budding does not occur in nutrient media. The 

 spores retain their vitality for six months but exposure to 45 C. for a few 

 hours will kill the organism ; it is sensitive to sunlight and common disinfectants. 

 The fungus is polymorphic, one form having been classed, by Sabourne, with 

 Botrytis. The large-spored trichophyte found on the scalp germinates at 

 37 C, in a few hours ; but at room temperature, a much longer time is required. 



Conidia 5 M in diameter, an abundant mycelium with dust-like growths, 

 and, in three days, oidium-like spores, as well as ectospores, are produced on 

 the potato, the disease being known as Tinea Sycosis. 



The T. circumscripta produces, in animals, cherry patches each with a raised 

 border and scales, and is also found on the head, arms, and neck, of man. T. 

 disseininata produces small red pustules. 



To T. tonsurans, also, is attributed Eczema marginatum which Kobner, 

 while making a study of trichophytic fungi in 1864, recognized as a trichophyte. 

 He also determined that the fungus on the nails, described in 1853 and 1855 

 by Baum and Meissner, was a trichophyte. 



Fig. 112. Barber's Itch. 

 (Sporotrichum tonsurans) Fila- 

 ments and spores. After Hyde 

 and Montgomery. 



