than in the cavities of the cells of phænogams, or their intercellular
spaces. The presence, however, of the little animal
in the cerebral cysts, which causes the disease known under
the name of ‘ giddiness’ in sheep, w-as once equally obscure,
and even since its origin is known, the rapidity with which
the young of the tapeworm of the dog, after it has been
swallowed by the sheep, penetrates the brain through a very
devious course, is marvel enough to command all our powers
of faith.
The existence of Fungi on the mucous membrane of animals,
or in other situations, will be noticed when I come to
the consideration of the diseases produced by Fungi.
Two other circumstances, however, require a few lines
before I close this Chapter. The first of these is the occurrence
of Mould in the inside of bread a few hours after it is
baked. This was at one time notoriously the case with the
coarse “ pain de munition,” or harrack-bread, at Paris. A
beautiful red Mould appeared in its very centre within an incredibly
short space of time. I t was, however, found that the
spores of certain Fungi would bear moist heat equal to that
of boiling water without losing their power of germination.
They have also considerable powers of resisting frost, hut the
exact limits in either case under varying circumstances have
not at present been ascertained.
The other point is the apparently sudden development of
fungous matter on cooked provisions, whether animal or vegetable,
in very hot weather. As the Fungus thus produced is of
a bright blood-red, and often spreads in little jets as if spirted
from an artery, it has been supposed to arise from a rain of
blood. The production is not, however, so uncommon as is
supposed, and may he seen almost every year on some of the
larger and more perfect Fungi when in a state of decay, though
in small quantities. When in abundance it is very beautiful,
and in hot weather it may he cultivated with great case on
rice paste. The growth of these productions is, however, very
capricious, and I have this autumn in vain attempted to cultivate
it, which is the more provoking, as its real affinities and
structure are at present very obscure.*
I t may he added, in conclusion, that the Fungi which attack
animal substances arc for the most part far from nice in their
choice of a place of growth, but some which produce disease
in animals are attached to particular insects, and a few which
grow on decaying hoofs, horns, bones, feathers, wool, or hairs,
are never found in any other situations. Leather for a long
time seemed to he exempt from any Fungi save the commonest
species of Mould, but Messrs. Broome and Currey have lately
found a pretty Ascobolus on this substance when exposed to
decay.
* Together with the blood-rain, gelatinous spots of a bright yellow, blue,
pink, grey, white, etc., often appear on the rice paste, identical in structure
with the red. The matter which appears on meat in damp weather seems to
be similar. The whole subject requires further investigation.