PARASITIC FUNGI AND MOULDS. 63 



accustomed to it, and under these conditions thrush 

 is almost certainly developed, so that few children 

 escape an attack. It is not generally dangerous, yet 

 it may, in some cases, compromise the health, and 

 even cause the death of the child. In addition to care 

 about cleanliness, a little pinch of bicarbonate of soda 

 may be put in the feeding-bottle; this prevents the 

 milk from turning sour. 



Onychomycosis. This disease, which attacks the 

 nails of men and the hoofs of uni-ungulates (the horse, 

 the ass, and the mule), is caused by a parasitic fungus 

 of the genus Achorion (A. keratophagus). In man it 

 is termed dry caries, and it is a fungus which is readily 

 transferred from man to the animals with which he 

 has to do, just as Achorion Schcenlenii of ringworm 

 passes from man to the dog, cat, rat, horse, ox, and 

 perhaps even to rabbits and gallinacese. 



In uni-ungulates the fungus is introduced into the 

 cracked and superficial layer of the hoof through its 

 fissures. In order to destroy it, this external layer 

 must be removed, and for greater security an anti- 

 parasitic treatment should be used. 



This remedy cannot be applied to the human subject 

 without causing considerable pain ; yet the nail may 

 be pared and scraped, and the anti-parasitic remedy 

 can then be applied. 



Prevention and Cure of SJdn-diseases. The general 

 custom of going to a common barber to have the hair 

 dressed or cut must conduce to the dissemination of 



