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21
Spores from four tubes of Aspergillus fumigatus killed the animal
within 48 hours. This example compared with that of Aspergillus
terreus fed to RABBIT VIII gives some indication of the difference in
virulence of different moulds.
Some characteristic disturbances of the digestive apparatus were
found to be common to all of the animals fed. In most of them
the stomach was hard and filled to its limit with undigested food.
Faecal matter had accumulated and abnormally distended the caecum
while the small intestine was nearly empty in every instance. The
bladder was in every case found to be abnormally full and dilated.
The symptoms of poisoning from the toxic moulds were invariably
muscular convulsions resembling tetanus. The animal becomes so
weak that it can no longer support itself. The mouth is kept wide
open, the head is thrown backwards and friction sounds are distinctly
heard at each heart beat. Paresis, especially of the hind quarters,
is apparent. Finally the pulse becomes weak and slow and the
temperature sub-normal. In all its manifestations the disease seems
to be identical with epizootic cerebro-spinal meningitis of the
veterinarians.
The results from the feeding experiments corroborate the obser-
vations of CENI with regard to the toxic properties of various species
of Aspergillus and Penicillium. The negative results obtained by
Otro and other workers remain partly inexplicable. As to the
virulence of the toxin of North American species of these moulds
compared with those from Italy, nothing can be said at present,
but a comparative study of the two would be desirable. The German
strains, which Orro found to be less virulent than the Italian
ones, are apparently inferior in virulence to those of North America
herein reported. But careful comparative study is needed before
this very interesting question can be settled.
When viewing the possibility of poisoning in man due to the
presence of moulds in the digestive apparatus the numerical factor
has to be taken into consideration. It is clear, that moulds present
in small numbers would leave no serious effect. It is the accumula-
tion of moulds in the intestine. which is to be feared. Such
accumulation undoubtedly takes place even in healthy persons
where no multiplication of the fungi within the body is possible.
Spore containing food is probably the most common cause of this
accumulation. The period of detention of the moulds in the
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