EUTHALLEPHYTA—EUMYCETES— MOULD 



199 



Fig. 42. Mucor corymbifer after the bursting of the sporangium. After L,ichtheim. 



colorless, smooth, collapsing; spores colorless, small 2x3 fj..; columella club- 

 shaped, brownish frequently papillate. 



Distribution. Probably tropical, found in tropical drugs, in Europe and the 

 United States. 



Pathogenic properties. Lichtheim recognized this species as pathogenic. 

 It grows better at a temperature of blood. When introduced into the circula- 

 tion of guinea pigs, it produces death in 48 to 72 hours. Mycelium is found in 

 kidneys, spleen and Peyer's patches of intestines which are swollen and ulcerat- 

 ed. Huckel found the organism in the human ear. Dr. Wolffner in Dr. Tre- 

 lease's laboratory in St. Louis, Mo., cultivated the organism from the human 

 eye. The clinical record of this case was as follows : A farmer near St. Louis, 

 was cutting corn with an old fashioned corn knife. A small piece of corn 

 stalk flew into his eye, later inflammation set in followed by inability to see. 

 Dr. Wolffner found a film over the surface. This film was removed and later 

 Mucor corymbifer developed from it. It has been frequently found in ulcerated 

 portions of the lungs, intestines, nasal cavity, and in the auditory canal. Dogs 

 are immune. 



The earliest recorded case of mucor in pneumonomycosis was made by 

 Furbringer, who had under observation three cases of a disease in two of which 

 he found a Mucor. According to Dr. H. C. Plaut, the cases of otomycosis are 

 not infrequent in India. According to Siebenmann it occurs in .5-1 percent in 

 all diseases of the ear, and males, especially farmers and gardeners, are more 

 predisposed than females. According to Hatch and Row, ear mycosis is com- 

 mon in India, they having observed 22 cases in one month. The most common 

 fungi found in the ear are Verticil Hum graphii, Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, 

 and A. flavus. A. nidulans is somewhat rare, as is Mucor septatus. The 

 Aspergilli will be treated more at length in another connection. 



