518 



DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 



with other micro-organisms (bacteria and micrococci) of the intes- 

 tinal contents, would produce a mycotic inflammation of the skin 

 when they are deposited on the latter by the intermediary of ex- 

 crements. Johne has judiciously opposed the following arguments 

 to this hypothesis : a. All malts contain the same yeast cells, all 

 should therefore produce eczema ; nevertheless rye and Indian corn 

 malt do not determine it. b. The accused yeast and fungi are found 

 in excrements of healthy animals which are fed on malt, and even 

 in those which do not consume any ; they must therefore be con- 

 sidered as elements without any etiological importance, e. The 

 disease may appear, notwithstanding the most minute care and 

 cleanliness, and it is not found in many unclean and badly kept 

 stables ; certain regions of the body's surface may be its seat with- 

 out having been soiled by excrements, d. Contagion by excrements 

 of affected animals has not been established, and attempts at the 

 transmission of the disease through inoculation of malts are always 

 failures ; more than that, we have employed for a long time and 

 with success as a method of treatment, lotions of hot malts (quite 

 recently Baranski, on results obtaiued by himself, has taken up this 

 argument and directed it against Ziirn's theory), e. In eczema 

 appearing after the ingestion of raw potatoes, potato stems, etc., 

 there could not arise any question of a pathogenic influence of yeast 

 cells. 



2. Kabe considers eczema produced by malts as a simple para- 

 sitic (symbiotic) mange [Symbiosis bovis), which could be trans- 

 mitted by contagion ; intermittence in its manifestation would be 

 associated with the biology of the parasites. Johne still further 

 has clearly refuted this view by offering in opposition the following 

 facts ; a. Acari are only found accessorily in eczema produced by 

 malts, and they are frequently observed in perfectly healthy ani- 

 mals or in subjects which have been recently cured ; on the other 

 hand, they are only found in one-third of the patients, b. Tail 

 mange often exists in certain stables for years without the appear- 

 ance of eczema, either in the patients or their neighbors, c. Inoc- 

 ulation of eczema has always been a failure, d. It heals without 

 medical treatment ; in order to cause it to disappear it is sufficient 

 to modify the alimentary regimen, e. Mange never spreads so 

 rapidly as eczema. In fine, the very close relations which exist 

 between alimentation with potatoes and the dermatosis of which we 

 are speaking is undeniable. 



