igii] Carl L. Aisberg loi 



The Phosphorus Assimilation of Aspergillus Niger 



ARTHUR W. DOX 



(From the Chemical Section of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment 



Station. ) 



The necessity for some form of phosphorus in culture media 

 for lower fungi has long been recognized. Notwithstanding the 

 variety of phosphorus Compounds occurring in nature, very few 

 have been tested with regard to their availability as sources of 

 this element for mold cultures. Among the substances tested in 

 this experiment were phytin, sodium glycerophosphate, sodium 

 nucleinate, lecithin, casein, ovovitellin, ortho-, pyro- and meta- 

 phosphates, hypophosphites and phosphites. All but the last two, 

 which contain trivalent phosphorus, were readily utilized. 



Fermentation and Putrefaction 



ARTHUR J. KENDALL 



(Department of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Harvard 



Medical School.) 



As shown by the work of the author and others, utilizable 

 carbohydrates protect nitrogen from attack by bacteria. This finds 

 its analogue in the metabolism of higher forms. Fermentation 

 takes precedence over putrefaction. For the purposes of this paper, 

 by fermentation is meant the action of bacteria upon carbohydrates; 

 while by putrefaction is meant the action of bacteria upon nitrog- 

 enous substances. The two phenomena, fermentation and putre- 

 faction, are antagonistic processes : the obligate putrefactive bacteria 

 cannot, as a rule, grow in media in which active fermentation is 

 going on, because the acids produced inhibit their development. 

 There is a third group, the facultative organisms, which are able to 

 adapt themselves to both kinds of food. This is an important new 

 conception. Thus, in the presence of dextrose the diphtheria 

 bacillus elaborates no toxin, while in its absence large amounts are 



