64 Transactions of the 



they were either "cihated epithehum," "degenerate fungi," or the 

 altered forms of " a true oidium," the material contents of " the 

 branching tubular canals " of which had become altered through 

 some kind of natural quiescence or encystment. If it be possible 

 for such encystment to take place, it must, in my opinion, be a 

 complete disguise of all known fungus characteristics, and 

 under such a disguise it was not at all surprising the late 

 Professor Quekett should fail to come to " any definite opinion of its 

 character." I would not have you suppose that a doubt exists in 

 my mind about the finding of fungi by Dr. Carter, in connection 

 with the remarkable form of disease with which he has made us 

 acquainted. I have placed a section under a microscope, taken 

 from a recent specimen sent over to this country, and now in 

 the possession of Dr. Tilbury Fox. It belongs to the more fre- 

 quently occurring form of disease, and in which are seen many 

 black, or deep-brown coloured masses, either closely aggregated, or 

 having a radiating aspect, branching out in every direction ; * and 

 what to me seems very curious, several spore-like bodies closely 

 resembhng " Puccinia " have been found ; which being a vegetable 

 feeder, should not, according to the Rev. Mr. Berkeley, occur among 

 animal matter. On the same authority we are assured " there is 

 not the slightest ground for supposing that the disease depends on 

 inoculation with the spores of the true parasitic fungi belonging 

 to the rusts and mildews." f Nevertheless I believe such spores, as 

 well as the conidial form of oidium, have been found in a few of 

 the specimens ; these may, however, have been accidentally intro- 

 duced from without. Dr. Carter does not tell us whether the less 

 frequently observed variety of diseased foot, that is, the foot in 

 which "degenerate fungi" and numerous rounded bodies are seen 

 to be the chief elements of destruction, is a more advanced, has 

 existed longer, or is a worse stage of disease. It ought to be so if 

 the fungi are in a more advanced condition ; but it certainly is 

 not, that is, if ordinary appearances can be accepted as any guide 

 to a conclusion on such a point. I can hardly beheve, however, 

 that what he describes as " degenerate fungi " are fungi at all. I 

 am ready to admit, however, so much of Mr. Berkeley's argument, 

 that at times " they so nearly simulate fungus growths, that it is 

 difiicult to get rid of the "notion that they are really vegetable 

 growths." But if they were, I see no proof anywhere adduced 

 to show that the diseased condition, described as due to a fungoid 

 growth, is really so; and this is the important point, one which 



* Since my paper was read, my friend Mr. Bell has made a chemical analysis 

 of these " black masses," and finds them to consist " of fatty matter, phosphates of 

 iron and lime, a little carbonate of lime, and a minute quantity of an organic 

 substance, albumen or fibrine." 



t Rev. M. J. Berkeley " On the Fungus-foot of India," ' Intellectual Observer,' 

 vol. ii., 1863, p. 248. 



