ASCOMYCETES— EUASCI— ASPERGIIXUS 265 



not be surely demonstrated, or at least differentiated from other cellular elements. Often 



the bronchial ramifications were the seat of hemorrhage, in which a noteworthy increase 



in the number of leucocytes could be observed. 



In large rabbits the pathological lesions appeared to be as follows : 



Rabbit No. 1008 failed to show any marked symptoms for the first two weeks after 



inoculation. It then began to lose weight, and on the twenty-fifth day was chloroformed. 



The postmortem examination showed an involvement of the liver, spleen, kidneys, and 



abdominal serous membranes, as in the preceding rabbit, but to a less extent. The organs 



of the thoracic cavity were apparently normal. 



The optimum temperature of growth for the fungus is from 35° -40° C. 

 Ceni and Besta in their investigations isolated a toxin from two species of 

 Aspergillus, the A. flavus and A. fumigatus. Dogs inoculated intra-abdominallj'^ 

 with large doses died within a few hours, showing tetanic symptoms and gen- 

 eral hyperemia of all the organs. This work has not, however, been confirmed. 

 Drs. Mohler and Buckley did not succeed in producing serious symptoms with 

 the filtered product when injected into rabbits. 



The Aspergilli also produce disease of the eye but, according to Plaut, 

 this disease is not of frequent occurrence; he discusses several cases under 

 the head of keratomycosis. One case described by Leber is as follows : A 

 farmer forty-five years of age, while threshing had the misfortune to have 

 some chaff of oats thrown into his eye. The sclerotic coat became inflamed, 

 followed by healing and total leucoma (leucom). Another case is cited where 

 a pear was thrown against the eye of a farmer, and another case of a fifty- 

 three year old patient, a miller by profession, who had a slight fever, his 

 right eye becoming inflamed. The conjunctiva had the appearance of trachoma. 

 The sclerotic coat was clouded and the surface of the eye brittle, consisting of 

 threads of fungi. Fuchs, who investigated this case, determined that the fungus 

 was Aspergillus. Aspergillus fumigatus has also been observed in the nasal 

 cavities where it produces necrosis and a disagreeable odor. 



In a review of a paper by E. Bodin and L. Gautier * the following state- 

 ments are made with reference to the Toxin found in Aspergillus fumigatus. 



From a study of this fungus in cultures and in experimental animals it was found 

 that Aspergillus fumigatus produces a toxin which may be rightfully compared with the 

 toxins of bacteria. For the formation of this toxin in cultures it is necessary to have a 

 mixture of protein, especially of the peptone type, and some carbohydrate, especially glucose 

 saccharose, maltose, or dextrin. The reaction of the toxin must be either neutral or 

 alkaline. The effects of the toxin are chiefly observed in the nervous system and are 

 produced more or less rapidly by the method of inoculation. The symptoms of poisoning 

 from the toxin are muscular convulsions resembling tetanus and leading to death within 

 a few hours if the animal does not recover. The rabbit and dog are very susceptible to 

 the toxin, while the guinea pig, cat, mouse, and white rat are more refractory. The dog 

 and cat are naturally immune to the spores of A. fumigatus, but are quite susceptible to 

 the toxin produced by the fungus. 



Treatment : To prevent the disease, do not feed mouldy grain or fodder. 

 Separate at once all diseased animals from the healthy. Use only thoroughly 

 clean dishes ; the troughs and boxes should be cleaned with formaldehyde. 



Very little can be done in the way of treatment in the case of birds. Mohler 

 and Buckley say that if a large number of birds are affected at one time, or if 

 those affected are very valuable, treatment may be tried in the form of medicated 

 vapors, such as those generated from wood tar or sulphur. A small quantity 

 of wood tar is put in a pint of water and stirred with a redhot iron. The person 

 doing the fumigating should remain in the room and immediately remove any 



* The Ann. Inst. Pasteur, 20 (106) No. 3, of the Uxperiment Station Record. 



