DEVELOPMENT OF EUNGI ON PATNA OPIUM. 143 



Note on the Development of Fungi upon Patna Opium. By the 

 Eev. M. J. Berkeley, M.A., E.L.S. &c. 



[Eead June 3rd, 1856.] 



Corda has figured in his fifth Fasciculus a species of Periconia, 

 which was observed by Janner on Opium from which the Morphine 

 had been extracted. This, as far as I know, is the only recorded 

 instance of vegetation on that substance, though there would be 

 no reason for surprise, when moulds are developed so largely in 

 mineral poisons, if they should not be incapable of growth in vege- 

 table poisons. The stems and capsules of Papaver somniferum 

 nourish more than one parasite ; but it is probable, that in the 

 condition in which they are when the f ungi make their appearance, 

 they contain very little opium. 



Specimens of the shell of opium cakes, consisting of the petals 

 of Papaver somniferum, agglutinated with an impure opium paste 

 known under the name of Lewah, have just been transmitted to 

 me by Dr. Thomson, to whom they had been communicated by 

 Dr. Mackinnon from Patna, in consequence of an affection to which 

 the opium cakes have been subject for the last year or more. One 

 specimen consists of shell from a very perfect cake, the other from 

 a cake in an advanced state of decay. On examination of the 

 lewah between the layers of petals, with sesquichloride of iron, 

 there was little or no red tint in either. Both so far seemed to be 

 in the same condition. On examination with the microscope, the 

 shell from the perfect cake exhibited a large quantity of pollen- 

 grains attached to the surface, and abundant mycelium ofPenicil- 

 lium, with necklaces of spores of various sizes, but without any 

 symptoms of consequent decay. The shell from the unsound cake 

 was much decomposed. It was infested with Acari, whose eggs 

 and dung were scattered about, mixed with a few pollen-grains. 

 There were abundant traces of the same Penieillium, but not in 

 so perfect a condition. There seemed also to be a mixture of the 

 spores of Aspergillus, with copious sporangia of Eurotium Herba- 

 riorum, which is now recognized as a form of the fruit of that 

 genus ; besides which, there were little heaps of white matter, 

 consisting of minute bodies endowed with Brownian motion, and 

 numberless infant spores of some mould in various conditions, re- 

 sembling the Yeast fungus, and possibly an early stage of the 

 Penieillium or Aspergillus. In the former case mould was pre- 

 sent, but not in such abundance as to do mischief; in the latter 

 mould predominated, and was, I believe, the cause of the dete- 



