Dr. Lucius Nicholls 233 



a few days in a solution of potassium ferro- 

 cyanide, they were then washed and cut in half, 

 the cut surface was carefully scraped, and a 

 minute drop of ferric chloride was placed in 

 the centre ; as it spread it formed prussian 

 blue with the potassium ferrocyanide which 

 had penetrated the bean. The prussian blue 

 is very deep through the testa and that surface 

 of the kernel which is in contact with it. The 

 irregular arrangement of the two convoluted 

 halves of the bean allows substances that have 

 penetrated to distribute themselves fairly 

 thoroughly throughout the kernel. It, how- 

 ever, takes some time for matter to penetrate 

 entirely throughout the seed. Thus in fig. 3 

 spot A is reached several days before spot B. 



B A 



FIG. 3. Section of cacao seed showing the convolution ot 

 its cotyledons. 



Now in the majority of cases yeasts and 

 other organisms are absent from the interior of 

 the beans, but zymase, the ferment secreted by 

 yeast, can be demonstrated in the interior of 

 the seed ; in this situation it will carry on its 

 usual action, and bring about changes such 



