186 YEASTS AND MOULDS 



comes away in all cases with discharges, and should 

 be burned. Their principal diseases in the human 

 being are as follows: 



Ringworm. Of this there are two varieties ringworm 

 of the skin, Tinea circinata, and ringworm of the hairy 

 portions, Tinea tonsurans or Tinea sycosis. This is due 

 to the Trichophyton of various species, depending upon 

 the size of the spores. It is commonest in children 

 in schools, and appears also where uncleanliness pre- 

 vails, as evidenced by epidemics from a badly kept 

 barber shop. The fungus grows into the hair 

 sheath and inflames its base. The disease appears 

 characteristically as circular, scaly patches, which are 

 rapidly denuded of hair. This disease, as far as known, 

 is only transmitted from man to man. 



Favus. This disease is caused by a mould called 

 Achorion Schonleinii, and affects chiefly the hairy 

 portions of the body. Animals as well as man are 

 affected, and while it is usually transmitted from 

 person to person, it is not uncommonly contracted by 

 fondling affected cats and dogs. Debilitated persons 

 are most susceptible. The fungus penetrates the hair 

 shaft, sets up a little inflammation which slowly spreads, 

 and is soon covered with a curious sulphur-yellow 

 concave crust called a scutulum. The place becomes 

 bald because the nutrition of the hair is cut off. Some 

 cases are on record where this fungus has spread to 

 all the tissues of the body, doing damage by the irrita- 

 tion of its presence. 



Thrush. Thrush or soor is a disease caused by the 

 Oidium albicans, and is characterized by the presence 

 of small white patches on the mucous membrane, 



