7,yS The Fungus Disease of India. [part ii- 



phenomenon, and as other organisms present in the cultivation both at the surface 

 and bottom of the fluid showed a pink tint only in those specimens in the latter 

 situation, this difference did not appear to be of any importance. It certainly could 

 not weigh against the numerous points of resemblance or identity in regard to form, 

 size and structure of the cysts> the nature of their contents, and their relations to the 

 filamentous mycelium with which they were connected. 



The only question of any importance regarding the submerged specimens related 

 to their development. Were they, and the mycelium bearing them, developed beneath 

 the fluid, or were the submerged flocculi mere fragments of the mould developed above 

 in contact with the air and which had become detached and had subsequently acquired 

 their pink colour beneath the fluid ? The latter is perhaps the more probable of the 

 alternatives ; but either mode of development may readily have taken place, as there 

 was an abundance of spores produced by the Aspergillus heads originally developed, 

 and these may either have germinated above or at the bottom of the fluid. The spore-like 

 bodies produced within the cysts were peculiar, being unlike those in the Eurotia of 

 some other forms of Aspergillus, and no asci were observed. They may possibly not have 

 been true spores, but merely abortive asci ; as, however, similar bodies may be observed 

 in Eurotia developed on other substrata, as will be pointed out subsequently, this is 

 a matter of no special importance in so far as the object of the cultivation in the 

 present instance is concerned. 



The cultivation was kept under observation for several months, but the only further 

 change of any importance which was observed to occur in it was a gradual increase in 

 the depth and intensity of the colouring of the deposit, which ultimately became in great 

 part of a bright vermilion hue. The colouring matter was tested with liquor potasste 

 at various stages of its development, but in no case did it show any signs of being 

 affected by the re-agent in a manner similar to that exhibited by the colouring matter 

 of the red concretionary particles of the diseased tissues. 



With regard to the development of Aspergillus in connection with the products 

 of the disease in the above cultivation, it may be remarked that species of that genus 

 may very frequently be observed in Calcutta on such materials as skin, cartilage, etc., 

 after the rainy season has set in. We have recently had a striking example of this in 

 regard to one of the commonest species of Aspergillus. The costal cartilages adherent 

 to the skeleton of a dog were observed to present a mouldy aspect, and this on closer 

 examination was found to be dependent on the presence of an abundance of minute 

 white points. Under a low magnifying power, these were found to consist of perithecia, 

 presenting the normal features, characterising those of Eurotium. They were connected 

 with a thin web of white creeping mycelium which formed a network over the surface 

 of the cartilage. The perithecia showed the normal cellular structure and were full 

 of roundish or fusiform spores. The perithecia varied considerably in size, ranging 

 from -^\j^' to tjI^' in diameter, and the spores measured on an average xtV^^" by suVu", or 

 when circular ttVs^" {"^ide Plate XXVI, Fig. 8). Jfo asci could be detected. 



