OTDIUM ALBICANS. 193 



turally hastened on. The fungus can easily be removed artifi- 

 cialty, without this normal separation, by scratching it off, or by 

 applying linen compresses ; less easily, however, by means of a 

 pair of pincers. The mucous membrane is found to be inflamed, 

 but not very red, when the membrane has been removed to some 

 extent. It is the redder, the thinner the layer of epithelium is 

 which covers it. A layer of epithelium would always cover the 

 places from which the membrane is removed, if suppuration and 

 ulceration were not brought on by delay; hence no blood ap- 

 pears when the membrane is taken off. This separation leaves 

 always behind a few sporidia and filaments, which foster the re- 

 newed growth of the fungus as long as the soil is found to be 

 favorable to its regeneration ; hence the pertinacity of the 

 disease. The opinion has now been generally accepted, that 

 alkalinity, as well as the formation of lactic acid, are in its 

 favour; but large quantities of either will prevent its growth. The 

 mucous membrane of the mouth and the upper portion of the 

 intestinal tube are its seat. Berg thinks it possible that the 

 real fungi might thrive even on the mucous membrane of the 

 genitals. No doubt, hsemorrhagic erosion in the stomach, or 

 follicular affections and ulceration in the child's intestine, may 

 have sometimes been called aphthae. Some observers even doubt 

 its occurrence on the nipples of nurses. The description of 

 the fungus itself we shall give according to Berg, Robin, and 

 Reubold. 



The parasite consists of tubular filaments bearing spores, and 

 of spherical or at first oval spores, which are the same every- 

 where. 



1. The tubular filaments (radices, trunci, fibrilli,} of writers are 

 cylindrical, elongated, straight or curved in different directions, 

 0-003 5 mm. broad and 0*05 6 long, rarely longer or broader. 

 Their edges are dark, accurately defined, and mostly parallel. The 

 interior of the tube is transparent, and of an amber colour. The 

 filaments are formed of long cells, with occasionally articulated cells 

 which are 0'002 mm. long; they decrease in length towards the 

 free end, which bears spores, and are, when washed out, seen to be 

 once or more times ramified, and the branches composed of cells. 

 The latter are often as long or longer than the branches ; some- 

 times only one short arid round, or two or three elongated cells, are 

 perceived in them. Partition walls are met with from time to time 

 on the branches and filaments, and diminutions or depressions on 



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