On mycetoma, or the fungus disease of India / by H. Vandyke Carter.

  • Henry Vandyke Carter
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On mycetoma, or the fungus disease of India / by H. Vandyke Carter. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    apparent, than fine granules disseminated through a translucent matrix, and which, there- fore, have just been compared to aggregations of Bacteria-growth, one might ask if such masses do not strictly correspond in nature, properties or even development, with the Sclerotia of Fungi proper; that is, may they not represent a stage or mode of growth which has for its object a similar intent, namely, the temporary but sufficient enclosure, in simple and least exposed form, of the general and specific qualities of the organisms concerned; the final purpose being that reached in higher modes of life, by bud or ovum. It is partly from a conviction that the pale, soft particles of the Ochroid form of Mycetoma, are, essentially, of a nature corresponding to the highly contrasted black, hard bodies, that I have ventured to propose a new name for them bearing some indication of this similarity —Malacotium being correlated with Sclerotium. That the structures in question, belong to the category of “ giant-cells” of patho- logists, is a supposition which I have not thought it necessary to at length discuss, in this place. 2. Theses and an hypothesis.—One of the chief objections to the adoption of my views as to the real cause of the Indian foot-disease, is the circumstance that, very frequently, the characteristic particles do not show any trace whatever of a fungus-structure, as commonly understood; and it is, therefore, inferred that since the vegetable parasite is sometimes absent, such entophytic growth cannot be regarded as the essential cause of the malady. The validity of this objection might be questioned on general considerations alone, as I have before attempted to show: for some special morphological structures are invariably present, and these if not obviously fungoid, are yet so very peculiar as to have hitherto puzzled almost every observer. I repeat, too, that in one form of Mycetoma a very decided fungus is always found; and in the other form (to which exceptions belong), an unmistakable fungus has, as well, been found: also, I remark that in both forms, the incipient growth is the same, and contains structures comparable to gloeogenous Bacteria or Micrococci: lastly, I add that each kind of fungus-particle has been seen to give rise to one common normal mould—viz. a species of Chionyphe. It is needless for me to re-state the grounds, upon which it is held that the malacotioid bodies (respecting which here is most question) sire not only of vegetable character, but are comparable in their nature to known products of Bacteria development; and I proceed on the assumption that this view is a tenable one. The in(|uiry now arises whether or not, elsewhere, have been elicited any series of facts demonstrating not only that Fungi may, under different conditions, assume very different forms; but that between any of these latter, and the still lowlier organisms included in the Schizo-mycetous group of De Bary, a true relationship does or may exist. I am aware that eminent observers do not agree with the associated views, whose most prominent advocate is perhaps Hallier of Vienna; but, without intending to take side in this matter, I shall briefly point to the theory which best serves (as I tuink) to connect the version of facts already proffered in this Memoir. Dogmatically stated, the fundamental observations arrange themselves thus :— ]. The parasitic growth always commences and proceeds, in the same manner. 2. Its earliest visible traces exist in the form of spherical collections, identical with tho so-called Zoogloea-masses (Bacteria forms). ;i. Subsequent development varies :—