G4 
in children, arises from weakness of constitution, the ring-like 
scar indicating the presence of the mycelium of a fungus, the spores 
of which are nearly imponderable and at the same time almost 
indestructible ; and when they meet with a soil suitable for their 
growth they increase Avith marvellous rapidity ; a decline of general 
health, or perhaps a constitutional predisposition offering a suitable 
locality for their production. 
The fungus found in the above-named disease is known by the 
name of Microsporon Andonini, and forms the light gray crusts 
covering the spot which has become bald. This fungoid growth 
consists of cylindrical tubes giving off decholomous branches, 
which when fully developed give off at their terminations a 
number of round bodies, (sporidia,) varying from the 15.000 to 
100,000 of an inch in diameter; the tubes vary from the 20,000 
to the 25,000 of an inch in diameter. 
If a hair is extracted from the diseased part the bulb will be 
found to be more or less invested with filaments and spores, some 
penetrating the membrane covering the basal portion of the hair ; 
the epithelial scales on the bald portion will also be found covered 
with mycelium and spores. 
Dr Klichenmeister in his “Animal and Vegetable Parasites,” 
relates several cases of these fungoid growths penetrating the 
interior of the body, and in those cases committing ravages more 
destructive to vitality than when they occur on the external 
surface. He mentions the case of a patient who had long been 
annoyed with figures as of strings of pearls before his eyes, and 
upon the operation of parasection being performed a fluid escaped, 
in which was found a branched mass of small cylinders, partly 
filled with globules and partly covered with minute cylindrical 
processes. The fungus which occupied the entire interior of the 
eye was nearly colourless, and consisted of fine and coarse fibres 
with clear and uniform contents. 
Helmhecht relates another case of a clergyman who came under 
his care for an inflammation in both eyes, after the cessation of 
which he had a constant movement of some body in the left eye, 
but after a faU from his carriage the figure became free. Helmhecht 
now made a puncture in the lower part of the cornea and sclerotic, 
a fluid escaped in Avhich was found a branched mass, consisting of 
fungoid cells and rows of spores. 
