In a study of ringworm of the hands and feet and of similar fungous infections, which are becoming relatively and actually more prevalent yearly, one is struck by the number of cases of recurrence at intervals with new active lesions in the same areas or in other areas than those primarily affected. Many of these relapses occur at yearly intervals, while others occur at irregular periods. The question naturally arises, "Are these relapses in the nature of an entirely new infection or are they recurrences due to a renewed activity of a dormant organism?"
As fungous infections are so widespread as to be of serious, nationwide importance from an economic point of view as well as from the point of view of health, the question cannot be settled without an enormous amount of work in all parts of the country on all phases of the disease.
In the