424 HIGHER HYPHOMYCETES AS THE CAUSE OF DISEASE 



media is composed of septate branching hyphens, or filaments. The 

 organism forms microconidia, macroconidia, and chlamydo spores. 

 The large falcate, crescentic, or sickle-shaped macroconidia or spores, 

 from 25 to 55 micra long and 2J to 4J micra wide, are typical for 

 all fusaria; they commence to germinate in form three to ten hours 

 after being transplanted into a favorable new culture medium. From 

 a peculiar skin lesion in a hog, Hart isolated a culture of fusarium 

 which seems to be identical with the above Fusarium equinum. 

 Peters found Fusarium moniliforme, discovered by Sheldon, on corn 

 as the cause of a disease of horses in which they lose their hair and 

 hoofs. The same organism is also said to have caused loss of hair in 

 cattle and hogs and of feathers in chickens. 



Oidium Albicans. The disease known as thrush, soor, or stomatitis 

 oidica is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth and 

 pharynx. It occurs in children, domestic birds, and also calves and 

 other young domestic mammals. 



The pathologic lesions consist in the formation of grayish-white 

 points and smaller or larger dots or even quite extensive pseudo- 

 membranes. The lesions later become brownish. If the pseudo- 

 membranes are removed a slightly reddened but otherwise unchanged 

 mucous membrane is seen. The pseudomembranes are, however, 

 quite firmly adherent. If examined microscopically they are found 

 to consist of desquamated swollen epithelia mixed with numerous 

 wavy or straight filaments and oval bodies. These formations are 

 the mycelium and spores of the fungus which causes the disease and 

 which is known as Oidium albicans or Monilia Candida. The fungus 

 is widespread in air, water, and on decaying vegetable matter as a 

 saprophyte, and only occasionally infects the buccal and pharyngeal 

 membranes of young beings. The mycelia are composed of cylindrical 

 cells, 1 to 4 micra wide and 10 to 20 micra long. The filaments show 

 branching and the outer ends are rounded off or club-shaped. The 

 clubs often contain oval, highly refractive bodies, the gonidia, or 

 spores, which are also found free between the filaments. The free 

 spores in air and food come in contact with the buccal or pharyngeal 

 mucosa, and if there are slight epithelial defects the gonidia may 

 develop and lead to the formation of thrush spots and membranes. 

 Cases have also been observed in children in which the fungus had 

 penetrated deeper and led to metastases in the internal organs. The 

 pseudomembranes are best examined in very dilute acetic acid (1 to 3 

 per cent.), which brings out the mycelia and spores under the micro- 

 scope. 



The organism can be easily cultivated in artificial cultures. It is 

 best to use distinctly acid media, because bacteria will not easily 

 develop on them, but Oidium albicans does. Fresh disks of apples, 

 obtained after washing the apples externally and dividing them with 

 a sterile knife, form a good culture medium for this fungus. It also 

 grows on agar, gelatin, coagulated blood serum, and potatoes. The 



