146 VEGETABLE PARASITES. 



The principal problem which the treatment has to solve is, the 

 securing good means of epilation. If such were once found, sub- 

 limate or tar would remove the disease in a few weeks. 



We pass over Malmsten's treatment, since he does not men- 

 tion rational epilation, and thought he could succeed by merely 

 lotions and combing. Celsus mentions that some writers 

 recommend the removal of the diseased places, and others the 

 burning them out. I think that this treatment is, a priori, 

 more rational than the various ointments which have been pro- 

 posed, although modern medicine would repudiate them as being 

 too cruel. 



History. Malmsten was the first to describe this fungus, and 

 to communicate his observations to Gruby, who seems to have 

 discovered it almost at the same time. At all events, Robin is 

 in error when he speaks of Gruby's discoveries as having been lately 

 confirmed by Malmsten. The latter had, in his first edition, 

 described a peculiar vegetable, quite distinct from Trichophyton ; 

 he has, however, abandoned this view since. Lebert recognised 

 this fungus likewise. Malherbe, as well as Cazenave and Leten- 

 iieur, who had himself been affected with this disease, still deny 

 the existence of the fungus. 



Bazin, who knows the fungus very well, though he mistakes 

 spores for molecular granules, has introduced a nomenclature 

 which might easily mislead the student, because the word 

 " decalvans " appears twice in it. He divides the disease into 

 Tinea favosa, tonsurans, sycosa (Mentagrum, autorum), achromatosa 

 (Porrigo decalvans, seu Vitiligo of the skin covered with hair), 

 and decalvans = Alopecia idiopathica. 



I can confirm Malmsten's statements. Professor H. E. 

 Richter was kind enough to let me have three hairs which he 

 had collected in Cazenave's ' Clinic ' from a man who suffered 

 from " Herpes tonsurans." The microscopic examination com- 

 pletely agrees with Malmsten's description. Robin says, more- 

 over, that the fungus in question and Giinsburg's fungus in 

 Plica polonica are identical. I am, however, inclined to believe 

 that they must be separated, and I shall therefore treat separately 

 of this fungus. 



