218 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Chemistry of the Lower Fungi. — R. Goupil* has tested the con- 

 ditions under which Aniylomyces produces succinic acid. The formation 

 of this acid is a characteristic of the fermentation process due to the 

 fungus. He found that as much as 6 p.c. of acid was formed of the 

 sugar consumed, and the quantity may even rise to 25 p.c. If there is 

 little growth of the fungus very little acid is formed ; in anaerobic 

 conditions, for instance, the fungus scarcely grows at all, and the 

 amount of acid produced is negligible. 



Eobertf has studied the value of calcium in filamentous fungi, a 

 substance which is indispensable in the lives of the higher plants and 

 animals. She found that calcium was always present in the thallus of 

 Aspergillus niger, though it did not appear to be of consequence to the 

 growth of the plant. 



M. Javillier and B. SautonJ experimented with Aspergillus niger to 

 test the value of iron in spore-formation. They found that though 

 spores would not form when sulphate of zinc was the only mineral 

 introduced into the culture, yet iron was not indispensable. 



G. E. Ritter§ has made experiments with Aspergillus glaucus, Clado- 

 sporium herbarwn, and Mucor racemosus, etc., to test the process by 

 which they break up and absorb nitrates. He found that all the fungi 

 that derived their nitrogen from nitrates were able to break up that 

 compound into nitrite, but as nitrites are very unstable in acid solutions, 

 the quantities are more easily recognized and calculated in neutral or 

 alkaline cultures. Various biochemical results are recorded and com- 

 mented on. 



J. Boselhll has written concerning the contents of inulase in Asper- 

 ffillus niger. It does not vary, he finds, whether the fungus be grown 

 on inulin, levulose, saccharose, glucose, or on saccharose and peptone. 

 The enzyme diffuses in the culture solution, especially in old cultures. 

 Temperature exerts considerable influence on its formation. 



Pathogenic Fungi. If — Aldo Castellani noted the frequency of 

 bronchial affections probaljly due to Hyphomycetes, and was led to make 

 a thorough study of the subject from this point of view. He made 

 cultures from the sputum of the different patients, and isolated fungi 

 belonging to Endomyces, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, PenicilUum, Strepto- 

 thrix, Actinomyces, and some undetermined forms. So far the author 

 has observed twelve different species of Endomyces, the commonest 

 being E. trojncalis, which he considers pathogenic. With the exception 

 of Saccharoymjces, he is certain that they all cause disease. 



Bory and Flurin** give their experience as to the importance of 

 reaCtiorx to fixation in determining the pathogenic role of Oospora. 

 They give instances to support their contention. 



* Comptes Rendus, cliii. (1911) pp. 1172-3. 



t Comptes Rendus, cliii. (1911) pp. 1175-7. 



t Comptes Rendus, clii. (1911) pp. 1175-80. 



§ Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Ges., xxix. (1911) pp. 570-7. 



11 Ann. Inst. Pasteur, xxv. (1911) p. 695. See also Centralbl. Bakt., xxxii. 

 (1912) p. 231. 



\ Lancet (Jan. 1912) pp. 13-15. 



** C.R. Soc. Biol. Paris, Ixx. (1911) pp. 715-17. See also Bot. Centralbl. cxix. 

 (1912) pp. 18. 



