22 Belation of Microseojpic Fungi to [''j^^^nTjanw^^^ 
villi tlie epithelium is cast off, partly in entire coverings like nnto 
tlie finger of a glove pulled off the finger. In other cases the cells 
come off singly, and then you find under the microscope cylindrical 
or conical single cells, each provided with a nucleus. There are 
also other cells from the mouth, particularly the tongue, from the 
gullet, the stomach, and from the rectum, which are round and 
have a nucleus. 
Now all those inquirers who in former years examined cholera 
evacuations and found those cells, perceived that they were in a 
particular state, differing from the ordinary healthy state. They 
were covered with granules, and their margins were somewhat 
indistinct. This granular condition of the cells has been called 
"granular disintegration," because while the granules are on the 
cells the latter expand and lose their outline ; ultimately many of 
these cells fuse into a heap of granules, without leaving any 
outline or nucleus. In fact the alkaline rice-water corrodes and 
swells up the cells and breaks up their substance and nuclei in 
the same manner as caustic alkalies do, when left in contact with 
them under similar circumstances. 
But what has been the explanation which has latterly been put 
upon that circumstance? It has been stated that these granules 
sitting upon these cells are the sporules of a particular fungus, 
which has been called the "cholera fungus," and the theory of 
cholera has been based upon this in so far that it has been said : 
Cholera is a parasitical disease arising from the introduction into 
the body of the sporules of a fungus which have the power of mul- 
tiplying, and by their multiplication destroying the epithelium 
upon which they feed. By one observer this granular matter has 
been termed " micrococcus." Here it is well to make a deliberate 
digression on terms, in order that our discussions of facts and 
allegations may not suffer any detriment from the want of intelligi- 
bility of new words and the absence of precise definitions. Coccus 
is the Greek word, with a Latin ending, for kernel or grain. The 
prefix of " micro " produces a compound word, which signifies small 
grain or " granule." This latter word is current, and everybody 
understands it. We know that most microscopic observers have 
seen granules on cells from the cholera intestine. It follows 
therefore that the term " micrococcus " implies no new discovery, 
but is only a new term for a feature long since and often observed. 
Its only claim to existence is the new interpretation attached to the 
granules, which are claimed to be sporules of a newly-discovered 
fungus. 
Other observers having seen that these granules were imbedded 
in mucus, have attached to them a somewhat different interpretation. 
If, in order to become acquainted with the theories of cholera of 
the present day, you study the discussions which took place last 
