Among the more common diseases seen by the dermatologist which present a therapeutic problem is ringworm of the scalp. The incidence of the disease appears to be increasing in this community. If the school administration forces the infected child to remain out of school until rendered noninfectious, it means the loss of from one to several months' schooling and perhaps loss of the entire year for the student.
Thus far the only satisfactory method of curing the patient has been actual removal of the infected hairs. This is accomplished by the use of either roentgenotherapy or thallium acetate. When these agents are used in proper dosage, the hair is readily removed in a short time. Epilation can be done satisfactorily only by trained workers, and daily observation of the scalp is necessary during the period in which the hair is loose. Satisfactory results are not obtained when epilation is attempted