84 VEGETABLE PARASITES 



The affection is generally seen on the trunk of 

 the body, more rarely in the extremities, although 

 sometimes covering the whole surface of the skin, 

 with perhaps the exception of the head. The 

 portions of the body covered by the clothing are 

 most often affected. We see spots no larger than 

 the head of a pin, up to patches several inches in 

 diameter, and of irregular outline. These are 

 light brown or yellowish, hardly differing from 

 the normal skin between, or darker brown up to 

 almost black. The larger patches are made up 

 by the gradually spreading and coalescing of the 

 commencing fine spots. The affected surface will 

 be found less smooth than healthy skin, and 

 a fine disquamation going on. The scarf-skin 

 can be more readily scratched up, and when 

 placed under the microscope we see the vegetable 

 parasite amongst the epithelial scales. The pres- 

 ence of this mould causes itching, varying greatly 

 in amount, hardly annoying to some persons, and 

 to others positively unbearable. It naturally is 

 most likely to be found amongst those classes in 

 the community where a flannel shirt is only re- 

 moved when a new one is purchased ; yet of all 

 the parasitic affections of the skin, this is the one 



