of mycelium and fully developed sporangia, leaving the membrana tympani and inner end of the meatus reddened, moist and swollen. The usual treatment by means of syringing and the instillation of parasiti- cides was continued daily for about a month, at the end of which time the growth seem- ed to have been exterminated, and the pa- tient left the city for a week. During his absence the syringing was omitted, but he was in the habit of moistening the entrance to the meatus for the purpose of relieving an unpleasant sensation of dryness. At the end of a week he returned, com- plaining of a renewal of the symptoms in the left car, characteristic of the presence of Aspergillus. Examination showed the inner end of the meatus filled with this growth, which also extended outward along the walls of the meatus to within half an inch of the entrance, at which point it was continuous with a yellowish-white lardace- ous layer covering the remainder of the wall of the passage. The whole deposit was removed by careful syringing. That portion taken from the membrana tympani and inner end of the meatus, and examined under the microscope, was unmistakably a pure Aspergillus nigricans, while the yel- lowish-white layer from the outer part of the meatus, and especially that portion of it near the point of termination of the true Aspergillus growth, presented appearances which certainly differed from those by which we distinguish Aspergillus, and which would hardly permitit to be classed with any of the varied forms of Penicillium. It resembled more nearly some of the specimens of bas- tard Penicillium figured by Hallier. PARASITIC GROWTHS IN THE EXTERNAL MEATUS. Clarence J. Blake, M.D., Boston. The subject of parasitic diseases of the hu- man ear has been so thoroughly investigat- ed by recent observers that very little ap- parently remains to be said concerning either their origin or symptoms. Of five cases which have come under my observa- tion, the two following only are reported as presenting some variations from the con- ditions which Wreden and others, both in Europe and in this country, have taught us to consider as characteristic of this affec- tion. On p. 37 of his paper, entitled “ Die Myringomykosis Aspergillum,” the author says, that although the frequency of the simultaneous appearance of the Penicillium glaucum and Aspergillus glaucus are well known, he has not been able, notwithstand- ing the most careful examination, to detect in any one yf his fourteen cases either a pure bastard example of Penicillium, or one resulting from copulation with Aspergillus. It is with reference to this statement of Wreden’s that the following case posseses its particular interest. A. B., aged 24, a medical student, con- sulted me in the latter part of February, 1370, iu regard to a simple catarrhal inflam- mation of the middle ear The patient was of a full habit, in good health, and had had no previous aural trouble. Aside from the usual appearances, the integument of the meatus on both sides was dry, and slightly reddened throughout its whole extent. Finding relief from the trouble in the mid- dle ear, the patient passed from observa- tion ; but returned in April, complaining of sensation of fulness in the ears, tinnitus auri- iiin, diminution of hearing, and an intense itching and prickling at the inner end of the meatus. An examination with the specu- lum revealed unmistakably a mass of Asper- gillus nigricans covering the meinbrana tympani, and filling the inner end of the meatus, the left ear being much more seri- ously affected than J-he right. Syringing brought away from each ear a compact mass The specimen represented in the accom- panying wood-cut exhibited a mycelium and fully developed sporangia (a). The spores, of which a collection is represent- ed at b, were of a brown color and oval outline, of about the same size as the spores of Aspergillus nigricans. Under a magni- fying power of 300, some of these spores showed a double outline. Mingled with this growth there was a close network of very fine mycelium. A portion of this same specimen planted upon lemon-peel, and placed in a closed glass vessel at a constant temperature of 80° F., gave at the end of three days a well- developed growth of the Leptothrix form of Penicillium. A number of the spores placed in glycerine, and maintained at the above temperature, at the end of a week showed many of the spores swollen and elongated, and exhibiting much the appear- ance figured by Ilallier in his work on parasitic plants. PI. IV. figs. 5 and 7 (As- pergillus glaucus). On p. 78 of the above work, Ilallier men- tions that Aspergillus requires a drier soil for its growth than does the Penicillium. In the present case, the first growth was purely that of Aspergillus nigricans, con- fined to the inner portion of the meatus, while the new growth sprang from a sur- face which was repeatedly moistened, and which was, moreover, freely exposed to the air. Although we are not able to deter- mine the precise condition of the meatus which is fitted to the nourishment of the parasitic plant, the circumstances in this case would certainly seem to have been fa- vorable to the development of Penicillium, and subsequently in connection with the earlier crop of Aspergillus, of a bastard growth. The second case is a comparatively sim- ple one. C. D , aged 68, a carpenter by trade, pre- sented himself at the aural clinic of the Mass. Char. Eye and Ear Infirmary in May last. lie complained of a feeling of ful- ness, tinnitus aurium, and loss of hearing in the left ear, together with an occasional slight prickling sensation at the inner end of the meatus. These symptoms, with ex- ception of the prickling, which had been noticed only within a few days, dated back about three weeks. The watch was heard distinctly when placed upon the temple and behind the ear, but very slightly at a distance of one-eighth of an inch from the ear. Examination showed the inner end of the meatus impact- ed with dry cerumen largely mixed with epidermis, and covered with a light brown- ish powder, which the microscope showed to be fully developed Aspergillus tlavescens. With the removal of the ceruminous mass and the accompanying growth, the disa- greeable symptoms were relieved, and the hearing increased to nearly the normal standard. As a matter of precaution, the patient was directed to return on the second day. lie did so, and reported no return of the former symptoms. The examination, more- over, gave no indication of a renewal of the growth, and the patient did not again pre- sent himself.* The plug of cerumen being placed in a glass stoppered bottle, soon be- came covered with a luxuriant growth of Aspergillus tlavescens; but subsequently, the specimen having been exposed to the air, this was replaced by a still larger growth of Penicillium.— Transactions of the American Otolugical Society.