THRUSH. 447 



disease, which will be described hereafter, it is customary to use astrin- 

 gent mouth-washes, such as spiritus cochlearise, tinctura myrrhse, rhata- 

 nise, or decoctions of willow, oak, or Peruvian bark. In an epidemic 

 in Prague, observed and described by Cejka, washing the mouth with 

 warm vinegar, containing more or less brandy, was found beneficial 

 where there was loosening of the gums. Where the affection of the 

 gums was more severe, a linctus, with muriatic acid, was prescribed. 

 Subsequent relaxation was treated by astringent decoctions and solu- 

 tions of alum. 



CHAPTER VII. 



SO OR MUGUET THRUSH. 



ETIOLOGY. Thrush was considered as a peculiar form of exudative 

 stomatitis until it was discovered that a parasitic plant, growing on the 

 mucous membrane of the mouth, caused the disease, or at least had a 

 great deal to do with it. The thrush-fungus, oidium albicans (Robin) , 

 is not found outside of the organism, hence we do not know how its 

 germs reach the mouth. But there is no doubt about certain circum- 

 stances being required for the germs to reach the mouth and the fun- 

 gus to grow there. In children the affection is only seen during the 

 first days and weeks of life, rarely in the second month ; in adults it 

 only occurs in protracted, exhausting diseases a short time before death. 

 Hence it appears probable that the germs become attached most 

 readily, and the fungus grows best, where the acts of chewing and 

 swallowing are not very energetically performed, and the fungus can 

 remain quiet and find nourishment in the disintegrating product of the 

 epithelium and remains of food adherent to it. The layer of mucus, 

 lining the mouth, appears to interfere with the implantation of the 

 fungus. In the newly-born or in moribund patients we may often 

 foretell appearance of the thrush fungus, from a certain amount of dry- 

 ness of the mouth. It is not probable, at least for all cases, that the 

 diminished secretion from the mouth is due to the first stage of catarrh, 

 even though the unaccustomed irritation in the delicate oral nrucous 

 membrane of a newly-born child may readily cause catarrhal irritation 

 Neglect of cleansing the mouth greatly favors the development ol 

 thrush. In large lying-in and foundling hospitals, where the care, by 

 which thrush can almost always be prevented, is not exercised, the 

 affection often attacks almost all the children. Although thrush has, 

 in some cases, been transferred directly from the oral mucous mem- 

 brane of one person to that of another, still the affection cannot be 

 reckoned among those that spread by contagion. It is not necessary 

 for a patient with thrush to be in the vicinity, for another to be affect- 



