LXXII. PITYROSPORUM OVALE (BOTTLE BACILLUS OF UNNA, SPORE OF MALASSEZ)

Abstract
Since Malassez1described for the first time the microbe now known as Pityrosporum ovale, the importance of that fungus in seborrheic dermatitis has been emphasized and disputed. The artificial cultivation of the fungus in sufficient quantity for experimental purposes had been attempted unsuccessfully many times. This was finally accomplished by one of us (Moore), as reported elsewhere.2This paper, therefore, is concerned with experimental studies with P. ovale on man and on laboratory animals to determine the possible rôle of the fungus in seborrheic dermatitis. A number of workers claiming to have grown the organism have attempted experiments to confirm or disprove the general opinion as to the significance of P. ovale in the disease. It is our opinion that the microbes obtained were too different morphologically and physiologically to be classed as P. ovale. The reactions obtained by inoculating persons with these microbes have been in

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