DEC 11 1901 
2 
Rov YORK 
BOTANHECAL 
THE 
MONTHLY MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 
JULY 1, 1870. 
1.—On Fungi and Fermentation. By Jamus Bett, F.CS., &e. 
(Read before the Roya Microscopican Society, June 8, 1870.) 
Puate LY. 
Tue first series of experiments to which I propose to refer is of a 
somewhat fundamental character, and relates to the behaviour of 
nitrogenized bodies in sugar solutions.* 
Albumen and Gluten.—It being generally understood that albu- 
men and other nitrogenized substances are subject to spontaneous 
or natural fermentation, a series of experiments was instituted to 
determine the character or nature of the fermentation which nitro- 
genized bodies derived from different sources would give rise to. 
The albumen of egg was first selected for experiment. To a 
solution of cane sugar a small quantity of egg albumen was added, 
and the sample was placed in a chamber which was kept at a tem- 
perature of 75° Fahr. 
In a few days numerous minute transparent cells or spores were 
found to be diffused throughout the liquid ; these soon increased in 
size, but the largest were relatively much smaller than the cells of 
wort or wine ferment. ‘The sample was examined on several occa- 
sions for alcohol, but great difficulty was experienced in the distilla- 
tion on account of the frothing caused by the presence of the 
albumen. The largest quantity of alcohol} found in the liquid at 
any one time amounted to only about two-tenths per cent. 
The liquid gradually became acid, and in two or three weeks 
was found to be full of webrios. At the end of forty-six and 
seventy-four days respectively the sample contained 1:02 and 2°16 
per cent. of acid, and on the latter occasion it contained no alcohol 
whatever, the acidifying power having become greater than the 
alcoholic. 
The cells contamed a bright nucleus, sometimes situated in 
* These experiments are still in progress, the albumen being subjected to various 
modes of treatment. 
+ The alcohol in each case is given as absolute, and the percentage is estimated 
by volume. 
VOL. Ty. B 
