284 BOTANICAL NEWS. 
was clean and healthy-looking. There was a bare place on the right side about 
14 Xl inch. This was perhaps caused by the rubbing. A lead lotion was ap- 
plied, and afterwards one of potassic sulphide. The hairs reached their ordi- 
nary length, and resumed a healthy appearance in the summer. Towards the 
end of March, this year, a few of the diseased hairs were again noticed. In 
May, 3viii of potassic sulphide lotion (gr. v ad 5) were applied, but the num- 
ber of damaged hairs continued to increase until the beginning of July. Since 
then the progress of the disease appears to have been checked by a wash of 
potassic bicarb., followed by a lotion of mercuric bichlor. and nitric aether ; the 
skin appears to be perfectly healthy. There is, however, again the hyper- 
sensitiveness before-mentioned, and the hairs appear to be fewer than usual on 
the right side. The beard has to be cut once in four weeks, or the difference 
in length of right and left side would be quite perceptible. The attack this 
year is not so severe as on the former occasions. This is shown by the fact, 
that now the peculiarity is not observed until attention is called to it, whilst 
formerly the disease was at once remarked. If one of the diseased hairs be 
examined before it breaks, it will be found to be bent at a sharp angle, and to 
be evidently ready to break at the angle, and at two or three other points may 
be noticed small white knots or specks. As many as eight specks have been 
counted on a hair about H inch in length. Under the microscope the hair 
presents a remarkably jointed appearance at each of the specks, and 1 
speck is large the whole substance of the the hair is seen to be split into its 
component fibres, and a mass of something, which appears to be fungus, w 
found to protrude from the centre of the hair. This fungus has evidently 
broken the continuity of the hair, by rupturing it from within outwards, thus 
giving rise to the fibrous appearance, and also to the bending and fracturing 
which are so characteristic. If the end of a broken hair be examined, it will 
be found to have a brush-like appearance, and the fungoid growth will again 
be visible. The fungus appears to be of a low type, and to consist of an aggre- 
gation of cells, with occasionally sporules and mycelium branching amongst W 
broken fibres of the hair. I am at present attempting to investigate the dis- 
ease further, and if I obtain any results worthy of attention, I shall be mos 
happy to bring them forward on a suitable occasion. The subject appears 
demand investigation, as I have heard recently of two or three cases m 
the beard has been affected in a similar way to that here related. VI. * * 
ceUaneous Communications. 1. Professor Balfour recorded the following nevv 
localities for rare plants in Scotland : — Alyssum calyciium, St. Andrew s 
(collected by Mr. Alexander Stewart), near Loch Leven (Mr. Buchan) \ A" 1 
SelKsnopramm, wall at Hiltly, near Linlithgow (Mr. Duncanson) ; L f m ^ C ^ 
thyrsiflora, in the canal near Linlithgow (Professor Liston) ; Veronica Becc^ 
lung a, var. limosa, near Cullen House, Banff (Mr. William Brown) ; l P^ 
taxis muralis, Prestonpans (Dr. Aitchison) ; Buoobaumia aphylto* near 
Eannoch (Dr. Buchanan White). 2. Mr. F. C. Henderson presented a c - 
lection of dried plants, contained in eight volumes. The collection ^^ 
pared by the late Rev. Andrew Kemp, formerly mh r at Aberlady, 
brother, and was principally collected about the close of last century. 
