HoGGj on Parasitic Fungi. 
51 
Case 2. — Fat-corpiiscles_, large, but irregular in form ; 
granular matter with hypertrophied epithelial scales/ broken 
and pale (greasy stain on the paper containing the spe- 
cimen) ; probably in this case some greasy application had 
been used. 
Case 3. — Fat-corpuscles, irregular and disorganized, large 
and mixed with granular matter; pus-corpuscles; epithe- 
lium broken and interwoven with fibrous tissue. 
The pus-corpuscles in Lupus have essentially the scrofu- 
lous character, with a thin, whey-like fluid intermixed with 
granular matter; the pus is irregular in form, containing 
granules which are peculiar; and from the relatively large 
proportion of fat in every specimen examined, it appears to 
be associated with degeneration of the fat-vesicle ; which is 
constantly throwing off its contents. All the surrounding 
structures are implicated, and share in the disintegration 
and destruction of tissue. 
These microscopic discoveries explain," says Kiichen- 
meister, page 144 (Dr. Lankester^s translation), "^^not only 
the pertinacity of the disease — since it is well known that the 
lowest plants develop themselves most intensely and rapidly 
in a favorable medium — but also its contagious character, 
which is no longer doubtful. The fungus itself is the sole 
cause of these changes of the hair, and of the secondary 
irritation and congestion of the skin, which cause exudation, 
an accelerated formation of the epidermis, scaling ofi" and 
production of crust, because the swollen hair exerts pressure 
on the skin." 
From the results of the examinations just given, I must 
submit that I have drawn conclusions the very opposite to 
those of Kiichenmeister, and am most decidedly of opinion 
that the vegetation found on the skin and hair is not pri- 
marily the cause, but rather the result of disease. 
I shall now endeavour to show on what grounds these con- 
clusions are deducible : 
1st. If there be any exceptions to the general law, that 
parasites select the subjects of debility and decay, such ex- 
ceptions are not found among vegetations belonging to the 
order fungi, which invariably derive their nutriment from 
matter only in a state of lowered vitality, passing into de- 
composition, or wherein decomposition has already proceeded 
to some extent. 
2d. That the growth of these fungi is not necessarily 
pathognomonic of a special disease, is obvious from the fact 
of their having been observed in nearly all kinds of chronic 
skin diseases. 
