The cancer problem : a statistical study / by C.E. Green.

  • Green, C. E. (Charles Edward), 1866-1920
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The cancer problem : a statistical study / by C.E. Green. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    by the following instance :—The saprolegniae, one of the groups of fungi which live on dead animal matter, are themselves attacked by a mycetozoan parasite known as Rozella, the swarm spores of which bore their way into the growing tubes of the host. When a spore has effected an entrance in this way it remains visible for a short time in the protoplasm of the tube, and then can no longer be distinguished. It loses its individuality and is lost in the proto- plasm of the tube, which at once swells out and divides by transverse walls formed in the same way as in the delimitation of sporangia in normal sapro- legnise. On these surprising effects De Bary (Com- parative Morphology and Biology of the Fungi, Mycetozoa, and Bacteria, p. 395) makes the following comment:— “ If no later investigations bring to light facts at variance with those here given, and this, according to Fischer’s statements, is not probable, but cannot, however, be considered to be impossible, the above case is an instance of a parasite surrendering its individuality, so far as that can he recognised morphologically, after its entrance into the host; it becomes changed into a part of its host and the two can no longer he distinguished from one another hy our present means oj investigation. The parasite