2268 



COSMOPOLITAN SKIN DISEASES 



capitis, tinea barbae. The fungi are, however, in most cases 

 difierent species (see p. 2052). In our experience, tinea capitis 

 is less common in India, Ceylon, and tropical Africa, than in 

 Europe and America. On the other hand, it is extremely common 

 in the American negroes. The fungi found in the tropics are 

 generally large-spored- ones. Microsporum audouini has never 



been found by us. Favus 

 is rare in tropical Africa 

 and Asia, but common in 

 China, Egypt and in the 

 Sudan. 



Pityriasis versicolor. — 

 The pityriasis versicolor 

 of temperate zones may 

 be found in the tropics. 

 It is to be noted, how- 

 ever, that several writers 

 on tropical medicine con- 

 fuse pityriasis versicolor 

 with another dermato- 

 mycosis which is ex- 

 tremely common — tinea 

 fiava (see p. 2073). 



Pediculosis and Scabies. 

 — Pediculosis capitis is 

 extremely common, 

 although natives gener- 

 ally take great care to 

 keep their hair in good 

 condition by regularly 

 combing, washing, and 

 oihng it. According to 

 Fox, Carmichael, and 

 Pendergast, pediculosis 

 capitis in the Southern 

 States of North America 

 is much less frequent in 

 the negroes than in the 

 whites, as, according to 

 them, the negroes take 

 greater pains in the care 

 of the scalp than do the 

 lower-class whites. Pediculosis corporis and Pediculosis pubis are 

 as frequent in the tropics as in temperate zones, and so is scabies. 

 Pediculosis pubis may, however, be very rare or absent in races 

 accustomed to regular shaving of the pubic hair. For description 

 of the parasites see p. 753. Scabies is described on p. 2217. 



2. — Septic Pemphigus. 



