CHEMISTRY OF FUNGI 163 



tities, that of Claviceps purpurea containing, according 

 to Zopf, thirty-five per cent. 



CHOLESTERINE 



The cholesterines present in fungi are unstable when 

 exposed to air. Gerard has detected their presence in 

 Lactarius piperatus^ L. vtllereus, Penicillium glaucum, and 

 also in the Myxogaster, Aethalium septicum. 



TANNIN 



Naumann states that tannin is most abundant in the 

 Polyporeae, occurring only very sparingly in Agarics. It 

 is also more abundant in parasites than in saprophytes. 



ERGOTININE 



This substance, discovered by Tauret, is the only 

 definite chemical compound of therapeutical value present 

 in ergot, the other bodies known as ergotine (Wenzell), 

 picrosclerotine (Dragendorff), etc., being mechanical 

 mixtures. It crystallises as fine, colourless, microscopic 

 needles which colour quickly when exposed to light. 

 Fusion point about 205. Insoluble in water, quickly 

 soluble in chloroform. 



MUSCARINE 



Found by Schmiedelberg and Koppe in Agaricus mus- 

 carius it is also said to be the poisonous principle in 

 Boletus luridus and Agaricus pantherinus. It is a crystal- 

 Usable, very deliquescent alkali, soluble in alcohol. Treated 

 with potash it decomposes, and gives off trimethylamine. 



