OIDTUM ALBTCANS. 203 



of the mouth, symptoms which frequently, in new-born babes, 

 are of a mere physiological character, as well as external redness 

 of skin, and which are often met with without being followed by 

 an eruption of thrush-fungi ; sometimes, however, a slight con- 

 densation and whitish colouring and swelling of the epithelium 

 are noticed on the free edge of the lips, as if in consequence of 

 a kind of maceration. A disturbed taste, in consequence of a 

 luxuriant development of fungi, is occasionally observed, and 

 may be considered often rather as the effect of a general catarrh, 

 besides an interruption of the free movements of the affected 

 parts. The renewal of the epithelium succeeds more rapidly 

 than usual, no doubt with the aid of the fungus, although the 

 gastric primary disease by itself favours this renewal. Berg 

 seems to be justly of opinion that the fungus produces the 

 hoarseness, which often accompanies thrush ; and even the 

 already existing vomiting might, to some degree, be increased by 

 it, although the fungi do not necessarily cause it. The slight 

 idiopathic form, affecting healthy children, "is said by Berg to 

 have precursors, yet the symptoms he mentions seem to be merely 

 symptoms of a slight intestinal catarrh. The torpor and drowsi- 

 ness accompanying such cases, as well as the fear of removing 

 the diseased parts, are very likely the means of increasing the 

 luxuriant growth of the fungus, for even sucking must necessarily 

 disturb the attachments of the fungous parts. Night may, there- 

 fore, be in favour of eruptions, as well as the long sleep of the 

 new-born child, according to the view of Berg and other 

 writers. 



I am inclined to attach little importance to the disturbing in- 

 fluence exercised by the confluent fungi on the secretion of 

 saliva, which they almost prevent during the period of the earliest 

 childhood, whilst it seems of more importance with well fed 

 children, who require much saliva for the insalivation of their 

 food. Berg observed, at the Foundling Hospital, in 1845, during 

 the prevalence of aphthae, that the faeces of 29 out of 139 

 children were yellow ; of other 29 children, after the fungus had 

 made its appearance, green; and of 57 the motions, sooner or 

 later after the eruption, became of the same colour. Berg seems 

 to conclude from these observations, that the thrush-fungus colours 

 the faeces green ; we are, however, unable to follow him in his 

 deductions, and believe that the first 29 cases, with constant 

 yellow motions, are quite sufficient to prove the view of Heubold 



