MEDICAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 313 



stratified network of a substance giving the reactions of fibrin, in 

 the meshes of which were contained altered epithelial cells and 

 corpuscles. 



The amount of adhesion to the mucous membrane was various, 

 but in no case did the exudation actually pass into its substance, 

 altliough in some cases it appeared adherent by fibrinous bands to 

 the papillae. 



After describing the views of Wagner and of other Grerman 

 pathologists, the author stated his belief that the false iiiem- 

 braue consisted in part of a catarrhal process with modifications 

 iu the epithelium, and in part of a true fibrinous exudation. 

 These views were supported by the comparative examination of 

 specimens taken from cases in various stages. 



In the pharynx the inflammatory process was stated to extend 

 much deeper than in the trachea, and to be accompanied by a 

 more rapid destruction of tissue. The false membrane was 

 believed to consist in a larger measure of altered cells. 



The question of tlie occurrence and importance of fungous 

 growth in the mucous membrane was then described, and the 

 author showed specimens from the pharynx containing numbers 

 of minute fungus spores and a delicate mycelium deeply pene- 

 trating the inflamed mucous membrane. He had not, however, 

 been able to find any similar appearance in the larynx or trachea 

 of the same or other cases, and he considered it, therefore, still 

 an open question how far the fungus was an accidental occurrence, 

 and what was its relation to the disease. 



The President, after proposing a vote of thanks to the author 

 of the paper, stated his belief that fungous growths might be 

 always found in the mucous membranes in certain low states of 

 health, and considered a fungus in diphtheria an accidental rather 

 than an essential occurrence. He could not agree with Dr. 

 Oscar, who held that the disease was owing to the presence of 

 fungus. He had examined more than one case of diphtheritic 

 conjunctivitis, in which disease the exudation forms very rapidly, 

 but had never found any fungus. The position of a vegetable 

 parasite upon the body had much to do with its influence upon 

 the disease it accompanied or of which it was the cause ; hence 

 some importance might be attached to the specimen shown, where 

 the fungus was deep in the inflamed mucous membrane. 



Dr. Bruce remarked that croup is generally defined as owing 

 to a false membrane, on the removal of which healthy mucous 

 membrane is left; this, however, the paper would disprove, since 

 Dr. Greenfield had shown that not only the mucous and sub- 

 mucous tissues were at times reached in croup, but that even the 

 tracheal rings might be in part destroyed. He had also noticed 

 the small cavities or vacuoles described in the false membranes, 

 and thought them owing to the exudation from the ducts of mucous 

 glands. These spaces were at times filled with exudation cells. 

 The mucous epithelium is not necessarily destroyed by the false 

 membrane; it may sometimes be seen covered by the latter. 



