MICROSPORON FURFUR. 161 



prolongations of the sheath of the hair, which they sometimes dye 

 yellow by means of their mass. The spores may also be taken, 

 out of the sheath of the hair after maceration. They undergo 

 no change except that they sometimes become thinner from 

 below. 



The patches increase gradually, and peel off superficially after 

 breaking through the layer of the epidermis, in little whitish 

 scales (i. e., the cells of the epidermis and dried-up fungi). On 

 the epidermis the fungi are found sometimes to run along the 

 minute furrows. If the fungus withers, the yellow spot pro- 

 duced by the peeling off disappears and leaves behind for a 

 longer period of time a smooth and less coloured spot. Gudden 

 relates that a medical student had been infected by his brother, 

 and thinks that the disease is contagious externally ; his 

 experiments on this subject were unsuccessful, because he 

 scratched off the epidermis at the place of vaccination. The 

 fungus is found on healthy and sick people ; one kind of illness, 

 however, being more favorable to its growth than another. It 

 never penetrates into the deeper and softer, but only into the 

 upper and horny layer of the epidermis, whence children escape 

 unscathed, and the chemical reactions of the cutis are looked for 

 in vain. The fungus of the favus (Achorion Schoenleinii) prefers 

 the lower layers of the epidermis, and is therefore more especially 

 the disease of children. Should it be confirmed that women are 

 freeer from Microsporon furfur, it would find its explanation 

 likewise in the nature of their skin. Gudden does not think 

 that contact with the air by itself prevents the attacks of this 

 fungus, but that it seeks and prefers the covered parts, on account 

 of their greater warmth. 



Treatment. According to Sluyter, the applications of lotions 

 containing a solution of liver of sulphur or corrosive sublimate 

 are sufficient. According to more modern writers, Tinctura 

 Veratri albi (in which, however, the alcohol appears to be the effi- 

 cient agent) may be employed with success a fact which I am able 

 to confirm. Gudden, at an earlier period, when he was but imper- 

 fectly acquainted with the nature of this disease, and had but 

 little experience, rubbed the back all over with soap, and, after the 

 lapse of half an hour, directed the patches of fungi to be bathed 

 with a lukewarm lotion and then with cloths steeped in solution 

 of corrosive sublimate, until he saw the first signs of intoxication. 

 But the evil returned after some months again and again. Von. 



11 



