FISSION OF SACCHARIDES. 365 



P. glaucum furnished salicylic aldehyde, this being oxidised to sali- 

 cylic acid by Asp. oryzce, &c. The latter product was in turn 

 consumed by several of the fungi, especially by Asp. Wentii. On 

 the other hand, the hydroquinone formed from arbutin had a 

 poisonous effect. Amygdalin was split up by all the species into 

 sugar and cyanhydrin, which underwent secondary oxidation to 

 mandelic acid, with liberation of ammonia. The fission of amyg- 

 dalin and helicin by the living fungus, especially by extracts from 

 the vegetations, was also demonstrated in the same year (1901) 

 by SCIIAFFER (IV.), in respect of a larger number of species, Asp. 

 fumigatus, Penic. lut-eum, P. rubrum and P. italicum acting in the 

 same way, in addition to Asp. niger, A. Wentii. A. glaucus, A. 

 oryzce, and P. glaucum. In this case, also, potassium myronate 

 was not attacked. The actual organism with which HERISSEY 

 (III.) obtained similar effects, namely, the so-called Asp.fuscus, 

 Bonorden, is uncertain, Bonorden's description being insufficient 

 for its identification. 



The fission of the polysaccharides has also been investigated. 

 The occurrence of an enzyme splitting up inulin was shown, in 

 the case of Asp. niger and Penic. glaucum, by BOURQUELOT (III.) 

 in 1893 ; but, according to KELLNER, MORI and NAGAOKA (I.), it 

 is lacking in Asp. oryzce, and, according to LABORDE (VI.), in 

 Allescheria, though the latter forms reducing sugars from gum 

 Arabic. A closer investigation of this enzyme has recently been 

 undertaken by DEAN (I.), in the case of Penic. glaucum and Asp. 

 niger. He finds that it does not issue from the hypha? spon- 

 taneously, so that it belongs to the endo-enzymes. It is in- 

 juriously affected by acids and alkalis, even in small quantities; 

 and its optimum temperature of action is given as 55 C. 

 SCHAFFER (IV.) states that inulase is also secreted by Asp. oryzce, 

 A. Wentii, A. fumigatus, A. glaucus, A. niger, Penic. luteum, P. 

 rubrum, P. glaucum and P. italicum. On the other hand, the 

 enzymatic so'ution of "true" cellulose seems to be a matter of 

 rare occurrence with all the members of this family ; for, though 

 it is true that MIYOSHI (III.) observed bursting of the cell walls 

 on the hyphse of Penicillium being stimulated chemotactically, the 

 same result occurs when mechanical pressure is applied (see p. 62, 

 vol. ii.). J. BEHRENS (IX.) also confirmed the incapacity of 

 Peni?. glaucum and P. luteum to dissolve cellulose, though both 

 were able to dissolve the substance of the middle lamellae, and 

 therefore like Asp. niger secrete pectinase. Two species, Asp. 

 oryzce and Asp. Wentii are reported as able to grow through the 

 substance of soft-boiled rice and Soja beans ; and according to 

 PRINSEN-GEERLIGS (I.), Asp. Wentii penetrates and dissolves the 

 cell walls, setting the contents free. In this case, however, the 

 material is not true cellulose, and consequently the nature of the 

 enzyme has still to be determined. It has also been stated by 

 NEWCOMBE (I ), as well as by OKAMURA and TAKAKTJSU (I.), that 



