ioi6 ASCOMYCETES AND BASIDIOMYCETES 



of tinea cruris. It is not inoculable into guinea-pigs. Attempts 

 at reproducing the eruption in man by inoculating pure cultures 

 have also failed. 



Epidermophyton perneti Castellani, 1907. 



This fungus has been described by Pernet. It differs from 

 E. cruris by growing much more rapidly on Sabouraud's agar and 

 by the cultures having a delicate pinkish colour, which is generally 

 lost in subcultures. It is very rare in Ceylon. 



Epidermophyton rubrum Castellani, 1909. 



Synonym. — Trichophyton pur pur eum Bang, 1910. 



This fungus was described by Castellani in Ceylon in 1909, and 

 by Bang in France in 1910. On Sabouraud's agar the growth 

 begins to appear four to six days after inoculation as a raised red 

 spot, which gradually enlarges. At complete development the 

 growth is of a deep red colour, either with a central knob or crateri- 

 form, and is partly covered with a white, delicate duvet. In old 

 cultures the white duvet is much more abundant and thicker, and 

 may hide the red pigmentation almost completely. 



On glucose agar (4 per cent.), which is the best medium for this 

 fungus, the growth is of a very deep blood-red colour, and the red 

 pigmentation may spread to portions of the medium itself. In 

 old cultures abundant white — occasionally white-greenish — duvet 

 is present. This may hide the pigmentation, but, scraping out 

 the duvet, the red pigmentation will be found to be still well 

 marked. On ordinary agar and glycerine agar the fungus grows 

 fairly well, but there is no red pigmentation. 



Genus Endodermophyton Castellani, 1909. 



Definition. — Trichophytonese with mycehal filaments and spores 

 in the lesions, but no conidial filaments in cultures. Pluriseptate 

 spindles unknown; grows between the superficial and deep layers 

 of the epidermis, and does not attack the hairs or hair follicles. 



Remarks. — The fungi belonging to this genus are characterized 

 by their growth between the superficial and deep strata of the 

 epidermis, forming an interlacing felt of mycelia, which detaches 

 the horny and granular layers from the rete Malpighi. They do not 

 invade the hair follicles, and do not cause suppuration. They have 

 been cultivated by Castellani. 



Cultures. — Botanically, these fungi are closely allied to the 

 Achorions, as remarked by Sabouraud and Pinoy, who have exam- 

 ined Castellani's cultures. Attempts at cultivation failed for a long 

 time, as they generally do not grow on solid media direct from the 

 scales. These, after being treated with alcohol for five to ten 

 minutes, must be placed in glucose-broth tubes, one scale in each 

 tube. Most of the tubes become contaminated with bacteria, but 

 in thcjse which remain clear, after a time (five to ten days) a few 



