50 Structure and Classification of Micro-organisms 



pneumomycosis, in which the lung is riddled with small 

 inflammatory necrotic and cavernous areas containing the 

 molds. The same condition has occasionally been observed 

 in human beings, Sticker having collected 39 cases.* 



Leber and others have observed keratitis following corneal 

 infection by this organism. 



Aspergillus flavus is also pathogenic. 



Aspergillus subfuscus is also pathogenic and highly virulent. 



Aspergillus niger. Pathogenic and found at times in 

 inflammation of the external auditory meatus. 



5. Penicillium. These are common green molds, widely dis- 

 seminated throughout the atmosphere and frequent sources 

 of contamination of the culture-media in the laboratory. 



Fig. 14 Penicillium (Eyrej. 



Moist bread exposed to the atmosphere soon becomes covered 

 with them. They are included in the group of fungi imper- 

 fecti, and are characterized by a luxuriant tangled septate 

 mycelium, with aerial fruit hyphae, ending in conidiophores, 

 each of which divides into two or three sterigmata, the tip of 

 which forms a chain of rounded spores. The whole germinal 

 organ thus comes to resemble a whisk-broom or, as Hiss de- 

 scribes it, a skeleton hand, in which the conidiophore corre- 

 sponds to the wrist; the sterigmata, to the metacarpal bones; 

 the chains of spores, to the phalanges. 



None of the penicillia is known to be pathogenic either for 

 man or animals. 



Penicillium crustaceum (glaucum) is the most common 

 source of contamination of the laboratory media. 



Penicillium minimum, which may be identical with the 

 preceding, was once found in the human ear by Sievenmann. 



* Nothnagel's Spezielle Path. u. Therap., xiv, 1900. 



