120 ON THE MEDICINAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL 



H}q)liomicetes of Richard's Elems. d'Hist. Nat,, which contain 

 species which the recent discoveries of Lebert and Robin liavc 

 shown to exist in certain cutaneous diseases. Richard says that 

 beyond any doubt certain cryptogamia do grow on living men 

 and on animals ; and he alludes to that imj^ortant work, "Des 

 Vegetaux qui croissent sur les animaux vivants, par le Docteur 

 Ch. Robin." 8vo. avec planche. Paris, 1847. See last and en- 

 larged edition, 1853. 



This plant, figured by M. Lebert (Physiol. Pathol, ii. 477, 

 1845), forms the filaments or tubes in Favus or scald-head. Porrigo 

 scutulata, M. Charles Robin says, depends upon the growth of 

 the same genus, which he names A. Lehertii. Plica Polrmica is 

 also made up of two distinct vegetable growths, not yet named ; 

 the one attacking the hair itself, the other the substance which 

 agglutinates them. M, Gruby, who has made some curious re- 

 searches upon the subject, has described under the name Micro- 

 S])oruin Audouini, the mushror)m which causes Porrigo decalvans, 

 and which has been called for this reason Pliyto-alojyecia. Ac- 

 cording to the same author, Mentagra is equally owing to a fungus 

 growth. So also Muscarcline, which produces such ravages in 

 the silk-worm establishments, is caused by the growth of Botry- 

 tis Bassiana. Some of the diseases of mucous membranes, mu- 

 guet for instance, are of parasitic origin ; some are fungous, others 

 confervoid. Richard, Elems. d'Hist. Nat. Med. ii. 18 ; see also 

 two papers of Dr. Brown, of Philadelphia, in Charleston Med. 

 Journal and Review, 1851, and Jos. Leidy, M. D., in Trans, of 

 Smithson. Institution. 



Including those enumerated above, ten Cryptogamia of the skin are described 

 by Robin in his recent work : Tricophyton sporuloides ; Trlcophyton ulcerum, Lebert, 

 in the crust covering an atonic ulcer of the leg. Microsporon furfur, found in Pityri- 

 asis versicolor of Willan. We will also cite from Rol)in, the list of Fungi growing 

 on the mucous membranes, or in the contents of cavities lined by mucous membranes : 

 1. Cryptococcus cerevisice, Kutzing (Sjti. Torula cerevisice, the yeast plant) in the 

 bladder, stomach, intestines, &c. 2. Mcris)nopadia ventriculi Robin (Syn. Sarcina), 

 in the stomach, intestines, <fec. 3. Lfptothrix biiccasis, Robin (Syn. Alga of the 

 mouth). 4. Oscillaria (?) of the Intestines, Farro. 5. Lfptomitns nropliilus, Mon- 

 taigne (an alga described as forming in llie urine. It has as yet been scarcely 

 studied). 6. Leptomilus (?) Hannovrrii, Rohhi {a\ga. tonnd by Hannover in the phar- 

 ynx and oesophagus). V. Leptomitus (?) of the uterus. Lcptomitus of the uterine 

 mucus. 9. Leptomitus of the eye. 10. Oidium albicans Robin (Syn. Cr^'jitogam of 

 diptheritis and aptha), Apthophyte (of Gruby). 11. Fungus of the Lung, Bennett. 

 12. Fungus in tlie discharge of glanders. — Braith. Retrosp. from B. & F. Med. Chi- 

 rurg. Review 



