Sporotrichosis is uncommon in New England and at times may present difficulties both in diagnosis and in treatment. Only 5 cases of sporotrichosis in which the diagnosis was proved by a demonstration of the causative organism have been reported in New England; Blaisdell1 reported the first in 1917, and since then Nellans2 has reported 1, Weise3 2 and Downing4 1. Sporotrichosis is so protean in nature that demonstration of the etiologic agent is almost mandatory. For example, it may so closely resemble scrofuloderma, blastomycosis and cutaneous syphilitic gummas that a purely clinical diagnosis is often impossible.
Potassium iodide has been accepted universally as an almost specific treatment for the disease. The exact mode of action of the drug is still a debatable question. The average dose recommended varies from 30 to 90 grains (2 to 6 Gm.) a day and more in some cases. The period