292 DR BENNETT ON PARASITIC VEGETABLE STRUCTURES. 



MADIANNA, and in the Dytiscus marginalis by BUSK. Lastly, the discovery of M. 

 BASSI has demonstrated that vegetations occur in silk- worms affected with the 

 muscardine, a disease which causes a great mortality among these animals ; and 

 the researches of M. ARDOUIN have shewn that these vegetations are formed at 

 the expense of the adipose tissue. Whether tubercular matter was present in the 

 worms is not stated ; but we know that the disappearance of fat is one of the con- 

 stant symptoms attendant upon imperfect nutrition. 



It appears probable, therefore, 1st, that these vegetations always arise in living 

 animals previously diseased ; 2d, that their presence indicates great depression of 

 the vital powers, and impairment of the nutritive functions of the economy ; 3d, 

 that the peculiar constitution or cachexia favourable to their growth is the tuber- 

 cular or scrofulous in the mammalia, birds, and fishes, and most probably in rep- 

 tiles and insects; and, 4th, that the therapeutic indications are, 1. to invigorate 

 the system, and, 2. to apply locally, if possible, such applications as tend to de- 

 stroy vegetable life. 



NOTE. 



On a cryptogamic Plant found growing in the sordes collected on the Teeth and Gums of individuals 



labouring under Typhus Fever. 



Since the foregoing Memoir was read to the Society, I have found more than once a vegetable structure 

 in the black deposit which collects on the Teeth and Gums of individuals in the last stage of Typhus 

 Fever. They are similar to those which I have described as springing from tubercular matter, but not 

 so large, the diameter of the tubes being from y ^ B to I J 1T of a millimetre. Their mode of development 

 appears also to be similar ; the partitions towards their extremities becoming more numerous, and these 

 being terminated by a chain of oval sporules. Distinct mollecules from ^J 5 to j-Jg of a millimetre in 

 diameter could be distinguished in the cells, and in some of the elongated sporules. 



