History of Mycology

In ancient Sanskrit writing of India (Atharva Vada, 2000-1000BC) the  first description of a fungal infection, i.e. mycetoma (Pada valmikan), was  documented. In 17th century, a german physician (Wngelbertkaempfer)  working in India first reported clinical human cases of mycetoma which was  followed by case reports of French missionaries in Pondicherry, India (ant-hill  of worm, 1714). Because the fruiting bodies of some fungi werelarge enough  to see without the aid of a microscope, such as mushrooms, they were the first  microorganisms known. Hippocrates (460-377 BC), father of medicine first  documented oral pseudomembraneous candidiasis and he described it with  the name of ‘apthaealbae’ which was later supported by Galen (130-2 BC). In  general, the vast majority of fungal infections are not spread from person to  person (are not communicable). In the middle ages, children in Europe became  infected with favus, a fungal disease of the scalp, smooth skin, even nails,  due to Trichophyton schoenleinii. There was no specific treatment at that time.  Throughout the middle ages several descriptions of dermatophytosis have  been reported where it was described as ‘tinea’ (Latin term).