SUBSURFACE GROWTH OF PATHOGENIC FUNGI ON PEPTONE, HAIR, PIG SKIN AND CYSTEINECYSTINE MEDIUMS

In a previous paper 1 I made a preliminary report on the predominance of subsurface growth on mediums made with hydrolyzed hair, hydrolyzed pig skin and cysteine hydrochloride. In this paper the types of subsurface growths noted, the variables incident to the correlation of subsurface growth with invasiveness and chronicity of pathogenic fungi for man, and the factors probably accountable for the results are discussed. Little is known regarding the basic factors accountable for the invasiveness and chronicity of micro-organisms. If anything was to be learned it was evident that if the culture in the test tube was to be studied and correlated, a medium made of tissues for which the organisms were selective was the point of departure. It is known that: 1. The type of growth might yield valuable information. 2. Organisms grown on mediums made of such ingredients as peptone and blood tend to dissociate. This is