Page:Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, volume 1.djvu/303

Rh cylic ointment or paste all over the eruption. As soon as the parts have become less moisit, I start the turpentine or the resorcin-benzoin treatment. A precaution which must be observed during and after treatment, in order to prevent re-infection, is to dust all the under-garments with anti-septic powder, such as acid boric and zinc oxide, acid salicl. and talc, menthol powder, or dermatol.

This trichophytosis was first described by Nieuwen-huis in Java, and his researches were subsequently confirmed by Jeanselme in Indo-China and in Sianr (in the latter country the disease is known as Khi). The disease is fairly "common in the Malay Archipelago, and is occasionally met with in Ceylon. It generally affects the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands, but may extend to the forearm and legs; it may affect the nails. The eruption begins with the appearance of small pruriginous spots on the palms and soles, the epidermis becomes raised and large vesicles develop containing at first clear serum; the bullae burst, and the skin remains dry and peels off; the parts remain tender and there is desquamation and pruritis. A process of diffuse keratosis develops, the palms and soles becoming double their usual thickness; deep fissures may be formed at the natural folds. Several horny, semi-detached discs can often be seen at the dilated orifices of the sweat glands. The affection is very chronic, and it may begin in youth or adult life. After some time a process of apigmentation of the skin sets in—white patches, leucoderma-like, developing and extending often to the legs and arms.

As regards treatment, Tr. iodine and chrysarobin ointment (1 to 5 per cent.) answer fairly well.

The Fungus.—Tinea albicans (Nieuwenhuis, 1907) is a trichophyton of the megalosporon type; the spores in fresh