MEMORANDA. 85 



On the Starch Grain. — In the Botan. Zeitung for June 8, 

 1855, p. 407, is a short notice, by O. Maschke, on the starch 

 grain. Adverting to a paper "On the Structure of the Starch 

 Granule," by Mr. Grundy, which appeared in the ' Pharma- 

 ceutical Journal for April 1855,' the writer refers to his own 

 researches on the subject, made in the years 1852 and 1853, 

 and published in the ' Journal fiir praktische Chemie,^ vol. 

 5G, part 7-8, and vol. 61, part 1 ; and states that in these 

 communications he endeavoured to show : — 



1. That the starch-grains are enveloped with cellulose, and 



consequently that they represent vesicles or cells. 



2. That the starch-grains examined by him were constituted 



of several cells, arranged one with the other in a pill- 

 box fashion. 



3. That the aniylon exists between these cells in a soluble 



or insoluble state, in the latter condition presenting the 

 form of extremely minute granules. 



4. That the so-termed nuclear point of the starch-grain is 



a central cavity in the innermost vesicle, which is 

 sometimes empty in consequence of desiccation, and 

 sometimes filled with fluid. 



5. That the " moss-starch" (moosstarke) is merely amylon, 



modified by the action of acids (modified starch). 



6. The " staleness" of bread depends upon the circumstance 



that the soluble starch, which exists in new-baked 

 bread, passes into the insoluble condition. 



7. That what is termed " leiocom " is produced simply 



from the action of an acid ; and that this acid is formed 

 in consequence of the elevated temperature necessary 

 for the demonstration of this substance." 



As the author does not appear, when these observations 

 were made, to have been in possession of a good compound 

 microscope, he may perhaps, when so furnished, see reason 

 to change his opinion in some respects as to the structure of 

 the starch-grain. 



Aperture of Object-glasses. — Professor Bailey having noticed 

 in the last Journal my remarks bearing reference to the fact 

 of his being able to discover the markings on the most difficult 

 tests known, when mounted in balsam, I beg to state, that 

 my observations were dictated by no other motive than the 

 desire of establishing a correct fact, and that I was not pre- 

 judiced by any favourite theory. 



Professor Bailey says, "It is appparent from the above 

 that Mr. Wenham has convinced himself, both by reason and 



