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On a Fungus parasitic in the Human Ear. By Jno. 
Grove^ Esq.^ M.R.C.S._, &c. Communicated by Henry 
Deane_, Esq. 
(Head April "15th, 1857.) 
Having taken a lively interest for some years in the sub- 
ject of parasitic growths of all kinds, whether occurring on 
animals or plants, I have lost no opportunity of seeking for 
them when occasions have presented offering any probability 
of success to my research. 
In the month of September last (1856) I met with a beau- 
tiful specimen of a fungoid growth which was removed from 
the ear of a gentleman who had been suffering from inflam- 
mation of the left external meatus auditorius. 
The ailment commenced with uneasiness and irritation of 
the ear, diminution of the sense of hearing, and some slight 
discharge. In a few days there was pain and greater urgency 
of the other symptoms. As the patient was in the prime of 
life, of unimpaired constitution, and apparently in vigorous 
health, I ordered simply poppy fomentations by means of 
spongio-piline, the ear to be carefully syringed with warm 
water, and a drop of glycerine to be applied night and morn- 
ing — the syringing because there appeared to be some floccu- 
lent-looking matter deep in the meatus. After a day or two 
some of this flocculent matter came away in little masses, 
which was preserved according to order for my inspection. 
The fungi to be presently described being detected, it 
occurred to me that the best method of preventing their 
further development would be to use some injection which 
was likely to be inimical to their existence. Alum was 
selected, and it seemed to answer perfectly. But soon the 
other ear began to take on the same symptoms as its fellow, 
and now the alum injection succeeded in checking altogether 
the progress of the affection, and the patient was speedily 
out of my hands. 
The only instance of a growth of this kind in a like 
situation, that I am acquainted with, is in Bobin's work ; he 
quotes, however, from a paper by Mayer, in Miiller's 'Ar- 
chives.' He speaks of a fungoid vegetation which was found 
in some cysts removed from the ear of a child eight years 
old, who was suffering with a scrofulous discharge from the 
