122 THE MICROSCOPE. Sept 
discharge accompanying the diseases, although “asthma- 
tus ciliaris” (the name given the forms) was admitted in 
Kent’s Manual of Infusoria. 
His son was then suffering with the disease and I 
examined specimens of mucus from his nasal passages, 
using for this purpose a one-fifth objective. For the first 
time I saw the ‘‘asthmatus ciliaris.’”” They could not be 
mistaken for ciliated epithelium. I carried away some 
of the mucus in a small vial keeping the specimens next 
my skinfor warmth. A low temperature is fatal to the 
forms. About six months after, I suffered from what 
appeared to be a coryza or cold inthe head. After some 
days, I examined some mucus discharged, and found a 
number of living asthmati in active motion, rocking from 
side to side and gracefully waving their cilia. I have 
had this complaint four times since and each time have 
found the same living organisms. 
During the yellow fever epidemic of 1888, one of the 
foreign physicians (a Cuban) called with me to see a 
patient suffering from yellow fever and who had black 
vomit. I carried my microscope with me and while 
examining some urine for casts, noticed the doctor was 
suffering from influenza. Obtaining some mucus from his 
nasal passages, I placed it on a slide under the cbjective 
and we both plainly saw the living forms of asthmatus. 
Infusorial catarrh is purely a parasitic disease, arising 
from a peculiar animalcular organism armed upon one 
side with cilia. This organism assumes a great variety 
of shapes and sizes. 
By watching its development and metamorphosis under 
the microscope, it may be seen to transform itself into all 
the different forms represented in figures from 1 tol7. 
The most usual shapes appear to be either spherical or 
oval, as seen in figures 1 to 8. Each frequently sends 
out a probosis, at the end of which is an elongated and 
dilated cilium, as represented at 14, 15, 16 and 17. 
