CHARLES THOM 



515 



Members of the A. niger, A. jlaviis, A.fumigatus, A. nidulans, and A. glaucus groups 

 have been reported from time to time. Most of these reports do not distinguish be- 

 tween organisms present and organisms active in producing disease. Enough studies 

 have been made to show that the black Aspergilli are frequent causes of ulcerations, 

 and that lung infections by A. fiimigatus are very common. Destructive outbreaks 

 of As^exgiWo'SAS' {A. fiimigatus) among domestic fowls have been studied. Losses of 

 birds in zoological gardens from this cause occur very commonly. This organism is 

 occasionally reported from the air passages of cattle and even of man. While its paths 

 of infection are uncertain, its frequency and destructive power are great enough to 

 class A . fmnigatus among the true pathogenic forms. Many discussions of mold infec- 

 tions in the medical literature lack deliniteness in their identification and their use of 

 names. There is great need for systematic and comparative study of these molds 

 wherever encountered in connection with disease, and experimental work to deter- 

 mine their significance. Strains of A.fumigatus are found everywhere in soil, in forage, 

 in cereal crops, but the infectivity of these various organisms is so little known that 

 we have made only a beginning in weighing its significance as a cause of disease. 

 Several new species of Aspergilli belonging near A . niger and A . versicolor (Sterigmato- 

 cystis) have recently been described from mycotic infections encountered in the 

 Belgian territories of Africa (Mattlet). This work, like the work of Greco in Argentina 

 or Dr. Latham in the mountains of North Carolina, emphasizes the probability that 

 molds are present in many pulmonary diseases and in various ulcerations. Whether 

 they are primary causes of disease or are more commonly secondary contributors to 

 pathological changes already started remains to be proved. 



Even in our fragmentary knowledge of a few species in this great group of molds 

 we have already found organisms which can be harnessed to yield results of great 

 value in industry, others whose destructive effects play a large part in the deteriora- 

 tion of our food supplies, and some which are a real menace to human health. In 

 general it must be recognized that cosmopolitan species in any biological group are 

 cosmopolitan because of their wide adaptability to changes in environment. This 

 adaptability commonly manifests itself in accompanying man in his spread over the 

 earth and participating with him in his affairs, for good or ill. Good strategy requires 

 that we know and use them rather than suffer by their activities. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY 



Church, M. B.: Soy and Related Fermentations, U.S. Dept. Agr. Bull., 1152, 1-27, 2 pis., 6 



figs- 1923- 

 Currie, J. N.: "The Citric Acid Fermentation of Aspergillus niger,'" J. Biol. Chan., 31, 15-37, 



pis. 2, figs. 5. 1917. 

 De Bary, A.: "Entwickelung und Zusammenhang von Aspergillus glaueus und Eurotimn,'" 



Bot. Ztg., 12, 425. 1854. 

 Molliard, M.: "Production d'acide citrique par le S. nigra," L'ompt. rend, de Aead. Sri 



(Paris), 168, 360-63. iQiQ. 

 Oshima, Kokichi: "Studies on the Protease of the Aspergillus oryzae-favus Group and lU 



Role in Shoyu Brewing," Am. Food J., 17 (i), 30-31. 1Q22. 

 Owen, W. L.: Summarizes his many years' study on this sul)ject in "Mold Fungi in Sugar 



Inversion," Facts about Sugar, 16, 5[Q-2i, 546-48. 1923. 



