MICRO-FUNGI FOR OCTOBER. 235 
the first two of these steps are taken in precisely the same way with 
the excess of fibrin thrown out of the blood upon any surface, where 
it organizes into a membrane, while all fibrils, the ends of which are 
left free from attachments, contract into spirals, and this gives us 
the so-called spiral bacteria in connection with diphtheria. 
Thus it will be seen that this whole question of the membranes 
of diphtheria, the falsely assumed bacteria in connection therewith, 
the coagula of the heart in this disease, etc., may be placed at once 
upon a purely scientific basis, if the profession so desires. And by 
this showing, too, it will be seen that the exercise of a little common 
sense, and the proper application of a few simple facts to the solu- 
tion of the subject, by the original promulgators and promoters of 
the bacteria theory, would have saved the medical profession a great 
disgrace, would have avoided hastening tens of thousands of patients 
out of the world in the vain effort to destroy by treatment what did 
not exist, as vegetable parasites, and would have rapidly advanced, 
instead of retarded, our knowledge of this terrible disease. 
MICRO-FUNGI FOR OCTOBER. 
URING this month, and onwards during the year, the Nidu- 
lariacei may be found, and are well worth the looking for. 
They are not leaf-fungi of which I have hitherto spoken, but one 
species. Zhelebolus terrestris may be found upon fir leaves. ‘The 
dying or dead stems of ferns, especially of Preris aguilina, are the 
habitats of many of them; others may be found on dead twigs 
lying on the ground, or in other similar situations. Many of them 
are in appearance like small birds’ nests, hence the name of Nidu- 
lariacei. In one species, Crucibulum vulgare, there are from four 
to six of these egg-like bodies on an average in each nest about the 
size of a moderate sized pin’s head. If one of these egg-like 
bodies be softened in water and broken up, it will be found to 
contain thousands of oval transparent spores. Although I have 
bestowed much trouble in looking for these curious plants, I have 
only met with a few of them. Cyathus vernicosus I found at 
Broughton in Furness in August, 1875, and Spherobolus stellatus in 
October of the same year at Marple. It will be observed that the 
fungi referred to are comparatively large, and may be readily 
recognised if the student is fortunate enough to meet with them. 
Some of them will measure from quarter of an inch to half an inch 
or more in diameter. There are many species of Ascobolus, which 
belong to the Elvellacei, now to be met with, and they are easily 
recognised. Numerous of them are of a bright orange or yellow 
’ 
