2096 



TROPICAL DERM ATOMY COSES 



occasions a desquamation of skin and loss of hair was observed, 

 and some chromatic patches appeared. Uribe succeeded in inocu- 

 lating several mulattoes. 



According to Montoya, the fungi of pinta live saprophytically in 

 certain waters, especially in those of mines and localities where the 

 temperature is constantly high. He states that he obtained pure 

 cultures of the pinta fungi direct from such waters. He has also 

 found the same fungi as ectoparasites on the bodies of mosquitoes 

 of the genus Culex, on sandflies [Simulium), and on the body of 

 some bugs [Clinocoris] , which are very common in the mines. Ho 

 believes, therefore, that mosquitoes and other insects play a role 

 in the transmission of the disease. 



In some old chronic cases of pinta an Acarus — somewhat resem- 

 bling Acarus scabiei, though larger — has been found to live in the 

 epidermal squamse, and some writers believe that this Acarus also 

 plays a part in the transmission of the malady. 



Predisposing Causes. — What the older authors believed to be 

 the true causes of pinta — viz., a hot, damp, climate; insanitary 

 surroundings and poor feeding; the mineral salts contained in the 

 waters — are only predisposing causes, some of which, however, are 

 of great importance. The hot, damp climate favours the growth 

 of the fungi; the water of the mines, which contains a large amount 

 of mineral salts (especially sulphates), produces after a time in 

 those who use it for washing, etc., a dermatitis with fissures and 

 other eczematous-like lesions which greatly facilitate the infection. 



All races are liable to be attacked by the disease, but mulattoes 

 seem to be particularly prone to become infected. Albinos are said 

 to be immune. Both sexes are equally liable to become infected, 

 though males, on account of their occupations, are more frequently 

 affected. The malady generally appears between the age of fifteen 

 and twenty-five, but it may appear at any age, and has been seen in 

 children three or four years old. 



It has been observed that individuals of the negro race are more 

 liable to contract the black variety than any other kind of the 

 disease, while whites are especially liable to contract the red variety. 

 Miners and agricultural labourers are affected in most cases by the 

 violet variety. 



Symptomatology. — The disease begins very gradually. After ^an 

 incubation period varying, according to different authors, between 

 a few weeks and some months, one or several small slightly pruri- 

 ginous spots appear on uncovered parts of the body. The spots 

 increase very slowly in size, and some may fuse together. They are 

 roundish, or may have an irregular outline. At first they are 

 hardly raised above the normal skin. The surface of the patches 

 is generally dry and rough, and is covered with fine pityriasic 

 squamae in recent cases, with larger and thicker scales in older 

 ones. Occasionally, in chronic cases, the surface of the patches, 

 instead of being dry, may be moist or somewhat greasy or glutinous. 



The hairs of the affected regions become atrophied, and later on 



