Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-04-23
Human Vegetation.

The power Of vegetation seems to be almost
universal and perpetual. Tho stone taken fresh
from the quarry soon becomes covered with
grey liohen and green moss, and the very broad
that we use becomes coated with vegetable A ofs
when exposed few days In warm damp at.
mosphere. Not only the face of the Garth, but
every object upon its surface, seems instinct
with vegetlble life. Ia some situations II
springs up go suddenly and Unexpectedly that
many persous suppose il to be endowed with
spontineity. 10 it's growth and development
its domain is not confined to inanimate crea
ton, but 1t is also extended over animal life
Bees may frequently be seen flying with plants
nearly as large as themselves, protrudlng from
their heads; silkWorms are sometimes affected
with O vegetable moldiness called mscardipe
and goldfish may oftentimes be eeen covered
with q white vegetable mold. Insects, reptiles
fowls, fishes, and animals OF the higher grades
are subject to parasitic vegetation; and man
himself is not exempt from the same influences
The scald head, the ringworm and dandruff are
vegetable growths Some forms of it attack
the children of the poor exclusively, where
sufficient attention is not paid to cleanliness
while other forms of it occur at all ages and
are found in all ranks and conditions Of socie.
ty. Tee vegetable growth of scald head ia
described in the Bible 18th chapter of Levitt.
cuG), and II is one of the unclesn diseases Of
the Hebrews. Itappsars 10 patches of yellow
scales; the hair becomes dry and brittle, and
disorgsnized. Examined with the microscope,
the scales are found to contain masses of seeds
A very formidable type of this disease occurs
frequently in Polond, and is called Plea poloni
ca. The parasitic plant which causes disessee
of the human scalp ia called dedTion schonleinii
and ia the frequent cause of badness. It hst
been noticed that badness is almost IN ,noWu
among a barbarous people. American Indians
Africans, Malays and Chinese have all bush,
heads; and II Ia asserted by the Rev. II, Mac
milan, F. R s., In on essay on the subject In
MdcmiIldn's Magazine, that badness was IN.
known among the primitive inhabitants of the
British Isles. Badness has increased with
civilization, but whether owing to Increased
intellectual activity, or vegetable parasites, de.
veloved under favorable conditions from mod
ern habits, is not settled question.
There is also special hair-plant called the
chinwelt, which revels in the beard. It ia die-
tlnguished by red eruption of tubercules Of
various sizes, and 1t frequently destroys the
hair. II was very common among the Jews O.
old, who, according to the Levitical law, en-
forced very arbitrary measures for its extrpa-
tion. Where long hair ia much priced / thu
East, the common salutation is, "May youl
shadow never be less, and the hairs OF. YOU
head never decreased"
There ia a singular vegetable growth pecu-
liar to the human body which has pyedilectiol
| for those parts which are habitually covereC
With clothing. 1t Is called mierosporon furgur
and consists of ON effloreEcence Of email circula
epots, which gradually coalesce and produce r.
regular patches, accompanied with dry scales
which are constantly removed. These scales
when examined with microscope, are found :,
contain oval seeds, tubes and knots, similar I,
those Of miniature bamboo canes This vege
table parasite is very common end occurs at al
ages and on both sexes.
The diseases called the yaNa, which ia com
mon in the West Indies; and the elphsntiasis
which disfigures the Egyptians, are vegetable
growths. II is also well known that in hospi
tails, especially during warm weather, whit,
locculent filaments are found on removing tn,
bandages from wounds and sores. These ar,
developed with wonderful rapidity In very few
hours, and are vegetable formations called nv
coderms, which are similar to the spawn o
mushrooms.
Vegetable grow,hs are somttlmes found il
several of the internal parts of the human sys
tenn, buCu hu parhsiteb Oh Lne teeCn, ana TN
thrush or whitish crust which frequently line
the membrane Of the mouth and throat OF in
fsut children. The same vegetable growth |
common with persons in the advanced stages o
pulmonary consumption.
It has been proved that all these vegetable
growths are due to seeds. most of which or,
go minute as to be almost invisible to the nake
eye. They float inthe atmosphere everywhere
daHce in the air currents Of every house; an,
they but await the proper conditions for thei
development wherever they alight. It ia eas,
to account for parasitic affections of vegetable
origin being highly contagious. Malaria fever
may be of cryptogania origin, due to the dlffa
sion of the seeds Of these plants In the atmos
phere. Several physicians have entertained
such views Formations closely resembling
them have been found In the blood and kidneys
of persons affected with typhus, and probably
there is some connection between such plant
and most epidemic diseases.-Seientifc Aneri'
can. .r.. r,....