672 



THE PARASITIC HYPOMYCETES 



SECTION V. THE GENUS SPOROTRICHUM. 



A disease, characterized chiefly by the presence of " chronic sub-cutaneous 

 abscesses " or " multiple disseminated gummata " which in the course of 5 or 

 6 weeks soften and break down, was first described as occurring in man by 

 Schenk. Since then cases have been recorded by Hektoen and Perkins, de 

 Beurmann, and by Ramond and Matruchot. 



This disease has been shown to be due to a fungus to which Smith gave 

 the name Sporotrichum. Two species were originally described S. schenki 

 (Hektoen and Perkins), and S. beurmanni (Ramond and Matruchot) but 

 they appear to be identical and should be regarded as one, viz. : S. schenki. 

 Numerous cases of sporotrichosis have now been studied by, among others, 

 Dor (S. dori ?), de Beurmann and Gougerot, Nattan-Larrier and Loeper, etc. 

 The parasite may infect the buccal, pharyngeal and laryngeal mucous mem- 

 branes, may produce " gummata " in the muscles and in the mammary gland, 

 and also papular and vesicular dermatitis, osteitis, synovitis and adenitis. 



1. Morphology and methods of detection. 



To demonstrate the parasite it is best to collect some pus from a non- 

 ulcerated " gumma " with a sterile syringe, using a needle of large calibre 

 and adopting the necessary precautions to prevent contamination. A por- 

 tion of the material should be examined microscopically after staining with 

 Unna's blue, and some should be sown on Sabouraud's glucose-agar (vide 

 infra). 



(a) Microscopical appearances. In pus, the Sporotrichum has the appear- 

 ance of a yeast and consists of oval or fusiform bodies representing spores or 

 conidia and measuring 3-6/x x 2-4/x. 



FIG. 316. Culture of Sporotriclmm. (After Monier-Vinard.) 



To study the morphology of the parasite the slide cultivation method of 

 de Beurmann and Gougerot is the best. Pour a little Sabouraud's agar (vide 

 infra) into a large tube, and stand two or three pairs of slides separated by 

 little pieces of cork vertically in the tube : only the lower ends of the slides 

 should touch the agar. Sterilize in the autoclave and then by tilting the 

 tube run the melted agar over the surfaces of the slides. Sow the thin film 



