880 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



regard to the agglutination were noted. For instance, no agglutination was 

 found with the bovine corpuscles and A. campestris extract, and the rabbit 

 corpuscles were agglutinated the strongest. 



Somewhat different was the behavior in the case of the B. edulis extracts, 

 which agglutinated strongly at first, but was later followed by hemolysis of the 

 cells. In some cases, after 2 hours hemolysis again set in. No agglutination 

 was noted with the corpuscles of the guinea pig and sheep, and the greatest 

 amount of agglutination was with rabbit corpuscles. The hemolysis was 

 greatest with the horse corpuscles. Agglutination, in contrast to the results 

 obtained with the mushroom, was present for bovine corpuscles. 



With the chanterelle extracts no effect in regard to agglutination or hemoly- 

 sis was noted with the cori^uscles of the pig, horse, and sheep. Hemolysis was 

 present only for guinea pig corpuscles. The hemolysin of A. campestris was 

 found to withstand a temperature of 80° C. for 15 minutes, while a temperature 

 of 95°, when exposed for the same length of time, completely destroyed the 

 hemolysin. Heating the B. edulis extract for one-half hour at 60° preserved its 

 agglutinating function but destroyed its hemolytic properties. 



Horse and sheep sera were found to inhibit the action of a boletus extract 

 upon homologous blood corpuscles. Rabbit serum had no inhibitory effect upon 

 the agglutination. The strong inhibiting power of bovine blood serum is removed 

 when, instead of the homologous blood, pig blood is used. On the other hand, 

 pig serum acts more inhibitory toward bovine blood corpuscles than toward 

 homologous blood corpuscles. 



In order to determine whether the active principle present in the extracts is 

 utilized during the agglutination process, tests were made with decreasing doses 

 of mushroom extract and rabbit blood corpuscles, which were changed twice 

 during the process. It was found that the agglutinating property for the rabbit 

 corpuscles was entirely removed. The process is considered specific. 



Note in reg-ard to the precipitating^ serum for the protein of Agaricus 

 muscarius, B. Galli- Valeric and M. Bornand {Ztschr. Immunitdtsf. u. Expt. 

 Then, I, Ori-g., 11 {1913), No. 2, pp. i80-i 85). —Specific precipitins for the 

 A. muscarius could be reproduced by immunizing rabbits with the protein 

 (albumin) of the fungus. With it, it is possible to detect the presence of 1 part 

 of A. muscarius in a mixture with 7 parts of Boletus edulis. 



Among the fungi used for comparative purposes in the tests were A. iridum, 

 A. campestris, A. nudum, Cantarellus ciharius, B. edulis, Helianthus repandum, 

 Morchella esculenta, and Tuher ciharium. 



This reaction may eventually be of great value in detecting the presence of 

 poisonous fungi among edible mushrooms, and also for the purpose of detecting 

 adulterations in these goods with inferior material. 



Cicuta, or water hemlock, C. D. Marsh, A. B. Clawson, and H. Marsh 

 {U. S. Dept. Agr, Bui. 69 (1914), pp. 21, pis. 4, fig. i).— The plants of the genus 

 Cicuta are of especial interest since they are probably the most violently toxic 

 of all the plants growing in temperate regions. The poisonous principle is not 

 in the aromatic oil which exudes when the rootstock is cut open but in a resin, 

 this having been separated under the name cicutoxin. 



The authors present a historical summary, a brief description of the genus 

 Cicuta, distinguishing between Cicuta and Conium, and mention the popular 

 names, localities where Cicuta poisoning has occurred, losses of live stock from 

 Cicuta poisoning in the United States, and uses of Cicuta. Experimental work 

 in Colorado, a report of which follows, is taken up under the headings of 

 feeding experiments with sheep and with cattle in 1910 and experimental work in 

 1911. Under the heading of general conclusions are discussed the symptoms of 

 Cicuta poisoning, autopsy findings, toxic dose, animals poisoned by Cicuta, 



