Page:Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, volume 1.djvu/322

294 note which of the two fungi were the more common in India, China, and other tropical countries. It would probably be found that in some countries T. perneti was as frequently met with as T. cruris. He also agreed with Dr. Pernet's remarks as to Tinea inibricata. Although he had tried various methods he had never succeeded in growing the fungus. He was therefore somewhat surprised at the results of Tribondeau and others, who had not only grown it but had reproduced the disease in man by means of cultures. Mr. Cantlie had given a vivid description of a very interesting tropical affection of the foot. He did not think that similar cases were seen in Ceylon, but instances of a peculiar eczematous dermatitis, characterised by terrible itching, and by the formation of large blebs and deep fissures on the feet and toes, were not uncommon. The treatment was very difficult; patients never got well unless they went to the hills or returned to their homes, but the method suggested by the President was certainly worth a trial. Carbolic solution would kill secondary germs, although probably pyogenic bacteria had nothing to do with the affection. Dr. Carnegie Brown had stated that, in his opinion, dhobie itch was contracted only when the skin was irritated. There was no doubt that infection was much easier when the skin was slightly inflamed than when it was in a normal condition. He thought, however, there were cases when the lesions of dhobie itch were not preceded by any marked inflammatory symptoms. Dr. Brown had also very justly called attention to the fact that in the Tropics medical men were apt to label every skin disease affecting the scrotum dhobie itch, and he certainly agreed with him that the use of chrysarobin ointment or strong goa powder should be restricted to cases where the diagnosis had been proved microscopically. Chrysarobin and Goa powder had a powerful destructive action on the fungus, but he had also seen very bad