1 i Experiments upon Mushrooms. 
evaporated passes into a jelly more or less solid upon cooling, 
which the substance in question does not: the gelatine is not 
dissolved in alcohol even weakened to 24 degrees, and the latter 
is dissolved in aleohol at upwards of 302. 
On the other hand, animal mucus, on being united with 
water, communicates to it a. consistence and a viscosity of 
which the latter is not susceptible. 
Besides, animal mucus is not sensibly precipitated by the 
aqueous infusion of gall-nuts, whereas the substance in question 
is abundantly. 
Can there be a portion of albumen, which in consequence of 
the long continued action of heat has become soluble in this 
fluid? I am inclined to think so; but I shall not assert it posi- 
tively until I make some comparative experiments on a future 
occasion. 
Examination of the Principle of the Mushroom which is soluble 
_ in Water and in Alcohol. 
This substance is of a reddish brown colour: in taste and 
smell it resembles broth a little salt. 
_ When dried’ by a moderate heat, it preserves its transparency 
and becomes brittle : in this state it keenlyattracts humidity from 
the atmosphere, and all its parts become glued together on the 
application of moisture. 
When thrown upon burning coals it melts, and is reduced 
into smoke which has the smell of fried meat mixed with fat. 
It furnishes upon distillation a thick brown oil, and carbonate 
of ammonia: its voluminous ‘charcoal is presented in a single 
piece. 
There were found in the charcoal of this substance murtate 
of potash and subcarbonate of potash, proceeding no doubt 
from the decomposed acetate. 
The solution of this substance in water is entirely precipitated 
by the infusion of gall-nuts. 
When triturated with a little potash and water, ammonia was 
liberated in a very marked manner: it contains ‘in fact a little 
muriate of ammonia. | 
From the above details it appears that the substance in ques- 
tion has all the properties at present known of osmazome, and 
‘as such in my opinion it may be considered. I found it in all 
the mushrooms I examined. 
Eight of the various substances found in the common mush- 
room are produced by vegetation: viz. 1. Adipocire. 2. Oil 
or grease. 3. Albumen. 4. Saccharine matter. 5. The ani- . 
mal substance soluble in alcohol or water (osmaxome). 6. The 
animal substance insoluble in aleohol. 7. The fungine of M. 
Braconnot, 
