123 



By oxidizing; agents, such as strong nitric acid, amaniiine is converted into 

 muscarine by the loss of two atoms of hydrogen. By heat both muscarine and 

 amaniiine yield trimethylaminc. The passage from muscarine and amaniiine to 

 betaine has not yet been effected. The price of muscarine, either natural or 

 artificial, is Is. per grain. I have not seen amanitine mentioned in a price list, 

 except as choline or neurine. 



The singular occurrences of amanitine (neurine or choline) are another link 

 between fungi and the animal kingdom. The production of these bodies artificially 

 is of great interest, as very few natural alkaloids have yet been artificially made ; 

 and these successes lead us to hope that we may some day produce such medicinal 

 alkaloids as quinine and morphia by chemical means at a cheaper rate. 



I do not know of any other cdkaloids from fungi. I remember a paper by 

 Phipson in the " Chem. News" about " A</aricus violaceus" fCortinariusifJ, 

 which professed to describe two new colouring matters and an alkaloid, but the 

 information was very scanty. The processes are so tedious and costly. I myself 

 tried to obtain an alkaloid from Boletus luridus, but failtd. It requires about 

 J cwt. of raw product to have any chance of succe-ss. 



Selmi asserts that mildew and the larger fungi give off htjdrorjcn and carbonic 

 acid gas. 



Taci (Comijtes Rendus, Ixxvi, .505) gives the following analysis of A(jaricus 

 ( Russula?) fastens in percentages : — Water, G7 ; mannite, O'G ; fibrin (albuminoid 

 matter), 4 6 ; gum, 1'5 ; jun'jin or cellulose, 20 ; fat, 0"68 ; ash, 513; with acids, 

 colouring and odorous matters undetermined. 



