2064 



TROPl CA L DERMA TOM Y COSES 



China, Borneo, Samoa, Java, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, 

 Sumatra, Fiji. According to Daniels, the disease was first intro- 

 duced into Fiji by some Solomon Islanders in 1870, and within 

 the following two years became extremely prevalent. In certain 

 of the Pacific Islands one-third to one-half the population is 

 affected. The disease is common in some districts of the Phihppine 

 Islands, the Ladrones, the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, and 

 some districts of Burma. Until 1904 the disease was believed to be 

 non-existent in Ceylon, but in that year Castellani recorded 'the 

 first case. During the last few years the disease has greatly 

 spread in this island, and it is now fairly common, though ^not 

 so common as in the Malay Peninsula or Fiji. India is said to be 



Fig. 814. — Tinea Imbricata. 



so far immune, but two typical cases haihng from Southern India 

 have been seen by Castellani. Cases have been reported from 

 Brazil and other parts of tropical America, but some doubt has been 

 expressed as to their being cases of true tinea imbricata. The cases 

 so far reported from Africa are also doubtful. 



The climatic conditions favourable to the rapid development and 

 spread of the disease are represented by a warm, damp, equable 

 climate, with a temperature of 80° to 90° F., the same climate, as 

 Manson so truly remarks, that is favourable to the growth of cocoa- 

 nuts; in fact, the geographical distribution of tinea imbricata 

 corresponds almost exactly to the districts where cocoanuts thrive. 

 In those countries which, though at certain times extremely hot, 



