Polytechnic Association Proceedings. 731 



it in both ears; and in all cases it existed independently of any- 

 other morbid aiFection. Each of these auricular mushrooms pre- 

 sents the chief botanical characteristics of asjjergillus glaucus, but 

 they differ in the color of their organs of fructification. They 

 form a pseudo-membrane, covering that of the tympanum, so that if 

 the former be extracted entire, it will be found to have the exact 

 shape of the latter. Dr. Robin wished to see whether these asper- 

 gilli could exist elsewhere than on the human body; he therefore 

 tried several kinds of fruit, and found that they took to the lemon 

 and orange very readily, but on the transfer they lost the color 

 exhibited while on an animal soil. The growth of these parasites 

 in the human ear is an obstinate malady, for which Dr. Robin pre- 

 scribes highly diluted solutions of hydro-chloride of lime or of 

 arsenite of potash, which at once destroy the cells of the aspergillus. 

 Phenylic and tannic acids do not destroy the cells, but mummify 

 the pseudo-membrane in a remarkable manner. 



FEUITS OUT OF SEASON PRESERVING, OR RETARDING HOUSES. 



The house erected by Prof. B. W. Nyce, in Cleveland, some four 

 years ago, has been so minutely described, that we will not go into 

 the particulars of one recently built in this city. The thing, so 

 far, has been kept very quiet, few persons passing the iron build- 

 ing corner of Thirty-eighth street and Tenth avenue, having any 

 idea of its use. It was hastily erected last July, under the super- 

 vision of that well-known pomologist, Wm. S. Carpenter, of this 

 city, who is associated with Prof. Nyce in its ownership. The 

 building is 38x48 feet, 23 feet in height, with the outside of corru- 

 gated iron, the edges or lappings being air-tight. Three feet from 

 the outer wall is an inner one, of smooth iron plates, also tight, the 

 space between them being filled with pine wood turnings. The 

 floor is of iron, also tight, and thirteen feet above is a water-tight 

 galvanized roof, or ceiling, which is the bottom of a capacious ice- 

 box. The space thus inclosed is the fruit-room, to be divided off 

 into as many air-tight compartments as desired. In the present 

 house there is a hall running through the center, and four rooms 

 upon each side, the partitions also being of iron. These rooms are 

 again divided, making sixteen small rooms in all, each capable of 

 holding eighty-four barrels of fruit, making the capacity of the 

 house 1,344 barrels when put in bins, or about 1,500 barrels closely 

 stored in the barrels themselves. All of the doors are so lined or 

 packed with flannel as to make them very tight, aud each room is 



