ENDODERMOPHYTON 



1017 



delicate, short, white filaments will be seen originating from the 

 scale. The growth slowly increases until, after three to fom* weeks, 

 it takes the appearance of a small, white, fluffy mass, with a dark 

 spot (the scale) in the centre. Portions of the broth cultures are 

 sown on solid sugar media, on which growth takes place now quite 

 easily. Fungi can then be indefinitely subcultured on solid media. 

 The fungi grow much more abundantly on glucose agar, 4 per cent., 

 than on Sabouraud or any other media. 



Reproduction. — In hanging-drop cultures long mycelial filaments 

 are seen; no conidia-b earing hyphse are present; reproduction is 

 apparently by sprouting, branching taking place; but further 

 investigation is necessary on the subject. 



Pleomorphism. — Pleomorphism is much less marked than in the 

 Trichophytons, Epidermophytons, and Achorions, but old cultures 

 may lose their characteristics, becoming covered with duvet. 



Table showing Endodermophytons found in Man in Order 

 OF Frequency. 



E. tropicale Castellani. 



E. indicum Castellani. 



E. concentricum Blanchard. 



E. mansoni Castellani. 



These may be recognized as follows: — 



A. Glucose agar cultures amber coloured, no duvet or only slight — 



Tropicale. 



B. Glucose agar cultures deep red: — ■ 



I. Causes Tinea imbricata — Indicum. 

 II. Causes Tinea intersecia — Castellanii. 



C. Glucose agar cultures after a time black: — 



I. Pigmentation fairly slow — Concentricum. 



II. Pigmentation very rapid^ — Mansoni. 



Endodermophyton tropicale Castellani, 1914. 



Remarks. — Manson, in 1872, described a trichophyton-like 

 organism in the squamae of tinea imbricata ; with the laboratory 

 techinque of that time attempts at cultivation did not succeed. 

 Blanchard considered it non-cultivable, and called it Trichophyton 

 concentricum; on the other hand, Nieuwenhuis stated that it was 

 quite easily cultivable, and was characterized by the colonies being 

 crateriform. His researches were not confirmed. In recent years 

 the general opinion has been that aspergillus-like fungi were the 

 real cause of the disease. Tribondeau described fructifications 

 somewhat similar to those of an Aspergillus, and created for the 

 fungus the genus Lepidophyton. Wehmer has described it as a true 

 Aspergillus — Aspergillus tokelau. Castellani, from the investiga- 

 tions he has carried out in Ceylon, has come to the conclusion that 

 Aspergillus and aspergillus-like fungi have nothing to do with the 

 disease. When they are present in the squamse, they are merely 

 saprophytes or contaminations. By using a special technique he 

 has succeeded in growing what he considers to be the true fungi 

 causing the disease. He recognized at first two species, and more 



