110 



Prof. R. Boyce and Dr. N. F. Surveyor. [Mar. 9, 



I have much pleasure in thanking Mr. E. Everett for the assistance 

 Tie has given me in the course of the preceding investigation. 



III. " On the Geometrical Construction of the Oxygen Absorp- 

 tion Lines Great A, Great B, and a of the Solar Spectrum." 

 By George Higgs. Communicated by R. T. Glazebrook, 

 F.R.S. Received February 20, 1893. 



[Publication deferred.] 



IV. "Upon the Existence of more than one Fungus in Madura 

 Disease (Mycetoma)." By Rubert Boyce, M.B., M.R.C.S., 

 Assistant Professor of Pathology, University College^ 

 London, and Nusserwangi Fakirgi Surveyor, M.D., 

 M.R.C.P. Communicated by Professor VICTOR HORSLEY, 

 F.R.S. Received February 21, 1893. 



' (From the Pathological Laboratory, University College, London.) 

 (Abstract.) 



Nature of Mycetoma. — A very chronic, locally spreading inflamma- 

 tion of the foot, much less commonly of the hand ; characterised by 

 the destruction of the tissues, great overgrowth of granulation tissue, 

 and by the presence of very numerous brown-white, fish-roe-like par- 

 ticles, or more rarely of black particles. 



Views held concerning Mycetoma. — In 1874, Carter held that the 

 " fungus foot " was a veritable parasitic disease, due to the growth 

 and extension, within the tissues, of an " indigenous mould." He came 

 to the conclusion that it was one species, the Chionyphe Garteri. 

 Lewis and Cunningham (1888) concluded that mycetoma was 

 " essentially a degeneration of the fatty tissues, independent of the 

 local presence or influence of any parasites whatever." Bassini (1888) 

 met with a case in Italy, the only one, as yet, observed in Europe, 

 and concluded that the parasite was allied to the higher Fungi, either 

 the Aspergilli or Mucorini. Most recently, Dr. Kanthack brought 

 forward evidence to show the identity or close aflinity of the parasite 

 with that of actinomycosis. 



Our Views. — That the black particles represent a curious metamor- 

 phosis of a large, branching, septate fungus ; whilst the white particles 

 consist largely of caseous material and of the remains of a lowly organ- 

 ised fungus, presenting in very many instances some of the character- 

 istics of the fungus of actinomycosis. That both fungi are pathogenic. 

 The following observations in support of these views are based upon an 



