MOLDS AND YEASTS AND DISEASES CAUSED BY THEM 253 



the bones and internal organs together with lesions of the skin. 

 They obtained cultures of the organism and classed it as a yeast. 

 About the same time Gilchrist^ independently observed similar 

 organisms in cases of dermatitis at Baltimore. The organisms 

 have been most thoroughly studied by Ricketts.'' Most of the 

 cases have been observed in the United States, particularly at 

 Baltimore and at Chicago. The disease is designated as oidiomy- 

 cosis, blastomycosis and blastomycetic dermatitis. It exists 

 most commonly as a chronic purulent dermatitis but infection of 

 the pericardium and of the meninges with these organisms and 

 even generalized blastermycosis has been reported.^ In the earlier 

 Uterature this organism was often confused with Coccidioides 

 immitis. On glucose agar, the parasites usually grow without 

 difficulty and the growth resembles that of an oidium, often with 

 abundant aerial hyphse. Inoculation of guinea-pigs with pus 

 or with cultures is usually followed by formation of abscesses in 

 which the typical spherical or ovoid parasites may be found. 

 Further investigations are required to determine the specific 

 relationships of the parasites found in different cases. 



' Gilchrist: Johns Hopkins Hasp. Kept., Vol. I, p. 209, 1896. 

 ^ Journ. Med. Research, Vol. VI, No. 3. 



' Sihler, Peppard and Cox, Case of systepiic blastomycosis, Journal-Lancet 

 (Minneapolis) 191 7, 37, p. 253. 



