FUNGI. 



403 



persons, depressed physically from local or accidental causes, may afford 

 to them just the pabulwni which will develop their poisonous quality. 



Many animal organisms, such as infusorial animalcules and their 

 ova, are frequently found floating about in the air, as well as the fungi 

 spoken of. 



fig. 189. Fungi. Magnified 200 diameters. 



1. Brachycladium penicilatum, found on the stem of plant. 2. Aspergillus glaucus, 

 found on cheese, &c. 3. Botrytis : the common form of mould on decaying vege- 

 table substances. 4. Fungi caught over a sewer (foul air). 5. Fungi growing from 

 a pumpkin. 6. Fungi caught in the air at the time of the cholera. (Aerozoa ?) 



Animals, birds, insects, and fishes, alike suffer from the ravages 

 of fungi. One of the most prevalent of these observed among our 

 domestic pets is the fungi growing over the upper surface of the gold- 

 fish j death is almost certain when this white fungoid disease once com- 

 mences its ravages. Great devastation is at times committed amongst 

 silkworms by the Botrytis, causing a disease called Musccvrdine, just as 

 they are about to enter the chrysalis state. 



We must range by the side of these the fungi known as mush- 

 rooms, toadstools, puff-balls ; and also a large number of microscopic 

 plants forming those appearances which are referred to generally 

 under the terms of mouldiness, mildew, blight, smut, dry-rot, &c. It 

 is well known that fruit-preserves are very liable to be attacked by 

 the common bead-mould (No. 3, fig. 189) ; which no care employed 

 in completely closing the mouths of the jars can prevent. We may 

 remark, however, that they are much less liable to suffer in this way, 



