8 



4. Distribution in Nature of the Fungi found in 

 Human and Animal Faeces. 



As 110 determinations were made of Ihe different yeasts met with 

 it is not possible at present to state, whether the forms isolated 

 belong to a group of Saccharomyces more restricted in its distribu- 

 tion, or whether they reläte themselves to those species so abundant 

 in soil and on vegetable matter (Hansen 23, 24). The preponde- 

 rance, however, of species of Aspergillus and Penicilliiim is remar- 

 kable. Many of these forms are widely distributed in nature as 

 saprophytes. Aspergillus fumigatus, isolated from five different in- 

 dividuals, has been repeatedl}^ found in soil (Jensen 31) and is also 

 common on fermenting vegetable matter (Sopp 59, Miehe 41, Weh- 

 MER 67). Aspergillus flauus has a similar distribution being com- 

 mon on vegetable matter (Sopp 59, Wehmer 67). It has also been 

 found on animal excrements (Wehmer 67). Aspergillus nidulans 

 seems to be relatively rare as saprophyte and, as far as the writer 

 knows, has not been reported as such since Eidam (12) found the 

 fungus in a bumble bee's nest. Aspergillus umbrinus, originally 

 isolated from brazil nuts, has not been reported since Patterson s 

 description of the fungus appeared (Patterson 48). Aspergillus 

 lerreus is the manuscript name of a fungus already known to Thom 

 from several sources. 



The spores of several of the aspergilli found in faeces are fur- 

 thermore constantly found in the air. Jelliffe (30) isolated A. 

 niger and Galli-Valerio (16) found both A. niger and A. flavus to 

 be present in the atmosphere at high altitudes. Other investigators 

 of the atmospheric flora e. g. Hagem (19), Rostrup (53), and Saito 

 (54) list additional forms. They are especially common in our 

 living-rooms, and it is ver}^ doubtful whether any inhabited room 

 can be found to be free from these organisms. 



Of species of Penicillium found in the alimentary tract P. luieum 

 from elk is a well-known and common saprophyte on vegetable 

 matter (Wehmer 68), and has also been found abundant in the air 

 (Westling 70). Of particular interest is the form isolated from 

 bear, P. avellaneum, now published for the first ti me and described 

 in detail elsewhere (Thom and Turesson 64). P. divaricatum does 

 not seem to have been reported since Thom described the species 

 in his monograph (Thom 63). It was fairlj^ common in ihe alimen- 



