MOLDS AND YEASTS AND DISEASES CAUSED BY THEM 239 



tases. It results in death in about 20 per cent of the cases in 

 infants. The predisposing digestive disorder or other primary 

 disease is, however, usually more important than the thrush, and 

 demands first consideration in treatment. The thrush lesion may 

 be carefully removed with a soft swab and the eroded area treated 

 with silver nitrate, o.i per cent. Generalization of the disease 

 is rare, but several cases have been observed. Inoculation of 

 animals (mice, guinea-pigs, puppies, rabbits) is sometimes success- 

 ful, and generalized thrush has followed intravenous injection of 

 young rabbits. The fungus seems to exert some poisonous action, 

 in addition to the mechanical effect upon the tissues. 



FIG. 96. Scutulum of favus on the arm of a man. (After Plant.) 



Achorion Schoenleinii. The fungus of favus was discovered by 

 Schoenlein in the skin lesions of this disease in 1839, two years 

 after the recognition of Botrytis bassiana as the cause of mus- 

 cardine. Remak in 1845 g rew the mold on slices of apple and 

 successfully inoculated his skin with these cultures. He named 

 the organism Achorion schoenleinii. In the lesion of favus the 

 threads of the fungus are found growing in the horny layer of the 

 epidermis, usually about a hair, and giving rise to a dry, circular, 



