266 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



birds that are overcome by the vapors. Burning sulphur or vapors of formalin 

 may be tried in like manner. Hydrogen peroxid, solutions of potassium iodid, 

 or hyposulphite of soda may be used as intratracheal injections, and in case of 

 local nodules in the mouth or nostrils the tincture of iodine may be applied to 

 them with beneficial results. 



It appears from the investigations with reference to kerato-mj^cosis, that 

 infection generally occurs through the medium of feed, straw, or something 

 that is thrown forcibly into the eye. According to Plaut the simplest and 

 surest method of dealing with the disease is to use a 2% solution of salicylic 

 acid, three times daily, but inhalation of an atmosphere containing iodine 

 is recommended by some of the German investigators, or the inhalation of 

 etheral oils. Immunity cannot be obtained by beginning with the injection 

 of small quantities of spores and increasing the dose. Dogs are not immune 

 against aspergilli. Mice are immune. 



Aspergillus nigcr. Van Tieghem 



An abundant mycelium in the substratum and on the surface becoming 

 blackish; conidiophores long; sterigmata branched; conidia 3'/^-4^ M in diam- 

 eter, roughened; spherical or cylindrical sclerotia. The fungus contains diastase, 

 invertase, and emulsin ; it breaks up tannin into gallic acid and glucose, and 

 converts sugar into oxalic acid. 



Pathogenic properties. This fungus has been found both in the lungs and 

 the ear, although less pathogenic than the preceding species. 



Aspergillus suhfiisciis. Olsen-Gade 



Mycelium olive yellow or brownish when mature, in and on the substratum; 

 conidiophores short, club-shaped ; spores spherical, colorless. 



Distribution. Found in Europe; closely resembles A. fumigatus. 



Pathogenic properties. Pathogenic, but less so than the A. fumigatus or 

 A. niger. 



Aspergillus nidulaiis. (Eidam.) 



The mycelium forms greenish masses ; later the mass assumes a reddish 

 color; conidiophores 0.6 — 8 millimeters long and 8-10 M across, colorless, 

 branched ; sterigmata consist of a basal branching cell and two or more branches, 

 each branch containing from 20 to 30 conidia; perithecia yellowish, 0.2 — 3 

 millimeters in diameter; ascospores 8. 



Distribution. Found in Europe. 



Pathogenic properties. The disease appears on the second day after 

 inoculation in guinea pigs and death occurs in 60 hours. Kidneys are enlarged 

 and show small white dots. White masses also occur in the peritoneum. It is 

 pathogenic for cattle and man, and is occasionally found in the human ear. 



PYRENOMYCETINEAE 



An important division of the fungi, containing about 10,000 species, many 

 of which are troublesome parasites on cultivated plants. The mycelium is 

 composed of delicate distinct hyphae or of closely coherent threads, frequently 

 forming a pseudo-parenchymatous tissue; hymcnium enclosed in a subglobose 

 envelope called a perithccium, or with an opening at the apex, which is often 



