2 Transactions of the Te oe 
the centre and sometimes near the coating. ‘These are shown on 
Plate LV., Fig. 1. 
Gluten was next selected for experiment. A sample was carefully 
prepared from wheaten flour, and a portion was introduced into a 
cane sugar solution. The gluten at first floated on the surface of 
the liquid, but in a few days it became much disintegrated and 
subsided to the bottom of the flask, and afterwards became gradually 
diffused throughout the liquid. 
On the second or third day an action was observed in the sample, 
and small transparent cells were seen to be tolerably abundant, but 
they did not appear to possess much action. The sample was fre- 
quently examined for alcohol, but very little was found to have 
been produced ; and at the end of thirty-four days it only contained 
1°65 per cent. of alcohol and 24 per cent. of acid. 
The spores or cells in this case had a bright nucleus similar to 
that which characterized the egg albumen cells. The gluten cells are 
represented on Plate LY., Fig. 2. 
Wheaten flour albumen was next tried, and in the first instance 
a cold-water flour extract was prepared, the starch and other in- 
soluble constituents beg separated by filtration. The clear filtrate 
containing the albumen in solution was divided into two portions; 
to one 21°80 per cent. of glucose was added, and to the other about 
15 per cent. of cane sugar. 
In a day or two after the samples had been prepared they were 
both found to be full of microscopic animals, of which some were 
ovoid in form, and others consisted apparently of several minute 
joints. The portion to which the cane sugar had been added goon 
became thick and syrupy, and it was apparent that the sugar was 
being converted into mucilage. 
The transformation of the cane sugar in a cold-water flour 
extract was a result which was entirely unexpected, and it is pro- 
bable that the change in the sugar was induced through the opera- 
tions of the little creatures present in the solution, for they all 
appeared to be extremely active, and apparently devouring some 
substance in solution. 
At the expiration of twenty-four days the sample was examined 
for alcohol and acid, and it was found to contain six-tenths per cent. 
of acid,* but no alcohol. 
The portion of the extract to which glucose had been added 
became turbid and slightly mucilaginous; and at the expiration of 
twenty-four days the sample was examined for alcohol and acid, 
and it was found to contain *72 per cent. of acid but only 0°17 
per cent. of alcohol. There were present in the sample a few cells 
resembling those of yeast, but they appeared unhealthy and inactive. 
* The acid is estimated as acetic. 
