60 RELATION OF THE DISEASE TO FUNGI. 



been a comparative failure ; and sound potatoes would 

 remain amongst others abounding in numerous fungi, with- 

 out being injured. 



(238.) When the plant is damaged then these vegetable 

 parasites appear, and the function which they are destined 

 to perform is highly interesting, and, in fact, a wonderful 

 example of natural economy ; for whilst man is careless, 

 and allows decomposing bodies to send forth their putrid 

 exhalations, and even buries the dead in the midst of the 

 houses of the living, and allows the existence of open drains 

 and unt rapped sewers, Nature, when not interfered with, 

 amply provides against the occurrence of such unhealthy 

 and offensive conditions, by taking effectual means to re- 

 move the dead material. 



(239.) The carrion crow, the vulture, and the jackall 

 may do much, the maggot, the beetle, and the wasp may 

 do much, towards the removal of dead animal matter ; 

 yet to the vegetable parasite is left the duty of annihilating 

 the exhalations of putrefying vegetables. 



(240.) No sooner does death occur than fungi grow : 

 these eat up, as it were, the soft decaying parts as fast as 

 they rot ; and thus is inorganic matter converted into or- 

 ganic, thus is death converted into life. 



(241.) The difference between gangrena sicca and hu- 

 mida frequently depends, to a great extent, or even entirely, 

 upon these parasites. When the parasites appear they dry 

 up the potatoe, absorb the decomposed cells, and leave the 

 starch. When they do not appear the tuber is far more 

 prone to become putrid, and evince the properties of moist 

 gangrene. 



(242.) We all know that many fungi are poisonous; 

 and I ask, what surgeon can say that some of these fungi 



