A book which surveys the world of the skin and its microflora, in health and disease, and in animals as well as man. The approach is essentially an ecological one, moving from the physical and chemical properties of the skin as a microbial habitat, through a consideration of the various major groups of microorganisms associated with it, to an account of the complex associations between these microorganisms. The skin flora in health is introduced as a prelude to the understanding of microbial skin disease, and the mechanisms of pathogenicity are explained as the major groups of infective skin conditions are reviewed. The principles of treatment, disinfection and prevention receive proper attention, as does the important topic of hospital-acquired infection, where the skin is so often implicated. The text is accompanied by numerous tables containing a wealth of practical and experimental detail, and is extensively referenced. This is a book which will be essential to dermatologists, medical microbiologists, veterinarians and research workers in these fields.