THREE cases of favus of the scalp were observed recently in Greenport, Long Island, 96 miles from the city of New York, with a population of approximately four thousand, five hundred. The community consists of a mixed population of both native and foreign born. The 3 cases of favus which were discovered there were all verified by mycologic examination. Cultures of the scales and hairs showed a growth of the causative organism, Achorion schoenleinii, and on microscopic examination, the individual hairs from each patient yielded typical large spores in chains, with air bubbles attached. Favic chandeliers and chlamydospores were observed in the culture mounts in all 3 cases.1
During the past twenty-five years there have been scattered reports of the sporadic incidence of the disease in many states.2 However, favus has been seen much more frequently in Austria, England, France, Scotland, Russia and Poland. Bergeron3 stated that