42 
REVIEWS. 
“Apthae; Muguet.—The Apthae which occur upon the mucous membrane of 
the mouth and pharynx of ill-nourished infants, and the whitish matter resem¬ 
bling false membrane, which is sometimes formed in the same situation in adults 
who have long suffered from exhausting diseases, and to which the term muguet 
has been applied, are composed of a vegetable fungus, which was first described, in 
1842, by Gruby, and has been spoken of by him under the names of Aphta- 
phyte and Cryptogames de muguet. It is placed under the genus Oidium, and 
termed Oidium albicans by Robin.* The appearance* of this fungus is shown in 
fig. 10, which is taken from M. Robin’s work. The examination of those vegetable 
growths in the microscope presents no difficulty ; but without care they may readily 
be passed over unobserved. As their structure is very delicate, and they are gene¬ 
rally found accompanied with epithelial cells and much debris, a very small piece 
only should be admitted to examination, and should be moistened with a little 
water or dilute syrup. They may be seen clearly with a power of 200 5 but to 
bring out their characters clearly requires a power of 500 to 600. 
Fig. 11. 
Sarcina Ventriculi.\ —This body is a species of alga which was originally dis¬ 
covered by Goodsir, in 1842, among the matters vomited by a patient. Since that 
period it has been found by a great many observers, and, indeed, now may be 
looked upon as by no means uncommon. 
“The vomited matters have much the appearance of yeast, 
and fermentation proceeds for some time after they have been 
ejected. In vomit presenting these characters the Sarcinae 
are, I believe, never absent; but they have been found in 
other cases and in other situations. 
“In all cases which have come under my own observation, 
the matter in which the Sarcina was present was acid, al¬ 
though, in several instances, in consequence of the ejection of 
much clear fluid (pyrosis), the vomit generally had an alkaline 
Fig. 12. 
entirely acid. The Sarcina is generally, but not invariably, accompanied with a 
great number of oval torulse, which vary considerably in different cases (fig. 11 , b). 
In the accompanying woodcut a partially digested starch granule is shown at J, 
and an oil globule at c. 
“ Other forms of algae are found in different situations ; for instance, in the 
cavity of the mouth, especially towards the back; mixed with, and adhering to, or 
growing from the cells of epithelium, will be 
seen, with a power of 200 or higher, a vast 
number of little, hair-like bodies, which consist of 
filaments of very minute alga ( Leptothrix buc - 
calls'). The filaments grow upon any small par¬ 
ticles of food which may remain entangled in the 
epithelium of the mouth. The papillae, at the 
back of the tongue, are thickly covered with very 
long filaments, consisting almost entirely of this 
alga (fig. 12). It is very abundant between the teeth, 
and the so-called tartar is partly composed of it. 
“The examination of these substances presents 
no difficulty; Sarcinae may be removed with a 
pipette from fluids, in which they subside as a de¬ 
posit, or, in cases where the mass is very viscid, 
with the handle of a knife. If necessary, a little water may be added, and the 
whole covered with thin glass, which often requires to be pressed down firmly, in 
order to obtain a very thin stratum for examination. 
* “ Histoire Naturelle des Vegeteaux parasites qui croissent sur 1’ homme, et sur les 
animaux vivants.” Paris. 1853. 
+ M. Robin has arranged it under the genus Merismopdia ( Meyen ), and he calls it 
Merismopdia ventriculi. 
