BACTERIOLOGY OF FEET AND INCIDENCE OF DERMATOPHYTOSIS OF FEET OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Much has been said about lesions due to fungous infections of the feet and the bacteriology of the feet, and much of what has been said is conflicting. At one time, for example, it was stated that such lesions ("athlete's foot") were found only in frequenters of gymnasiums and then later that as high as 70 to 80 per cent of the male and 50 to 60 per cent of the female population were infected, a large proportion of whom never went near a gymnasium. Also, it has been said by some that fungous infections of the feet are highly communicable and by others that they are not communicable at all. Such statements, and there are many more, indicate that knowledge of the bacteriology of the feet is inadequate. It seemed desirable to attempt a survey with a group of persons extending over a period of time to try to