ASCOMYCETES—EUASCI— ASPERGILLUS 



259 



Fig. 87a. Mycotic stomatitis caused from eating mouldy hay and parasitic fungi on 

 forage plants. (U. S. Dept. Agrl.) 



unite with the spiral known as the ascogonium. After fertilization a perithecium 

 is produced, which contains the asci, each ascus being surrounded by a delicate 

 wall and containing eight biconvex ascospores. 



Asperigillus forms diastase and is capable of changing starch into dextrin 

 and maltose. 



Distribution. Widely distributed in nature on mouldy hay, corn and other 

 grains. 



Poisonous properties. The organism is not pathogenic but probably develops 

 a poisonous substance which may produce disturbance. Dr. Law mentions a 

 serious case, epizootic cerebro-spinal meningitis, in Pennsylvania, due to the 

 feeding of mouldy timothy hay, which was badly fermented. In Cairo, Egypt, 

 6,000 horses and mules perished from the same cause. Michener attributes 

 this disease to foods undergoing fermentation due to toxic fungi. Williams, 

 of Idaho, thought also that the fermentation of alfalfa, timothy and wild grass 

 hay produced the disease. Dr. Law says : 



In all probability as we learn more of the true pathology of the disease, we shall come 

 to recognize not one, but several toxic principles, and several different affections, each with 

 its characteristic phenomena in the somewhat indefinite affection still known as cerebro- 

 spinal meningitis. 



It occurs in horses, sheep, oxen, goats, and dogs, preferably attacking the 

 young which have not become immuned to the toxic substance. It occurs most 

 commonly in winter and spring when animals shed the coat. Dr. Mayo, who 

 investigated this trouble in Kansas, says that a disease known as "staggers," 

 "mad staggers," or, as he has termed it, enzootic cerebritis, is caused by feeding 

 corn which is attacked by Aspergillus glaucus. The spores of the fungus gain 

 entrance to the circulation, and find lodgment in the kidneys and liver. He 

 supports his conclusions by experiments made by him on a guinea pig and a 



