POISONOUS FUNGI AND OTHER SPORE-BEARING PLANTS 41 



WILSON, A. STEPHEN: Observations and Experiments on Ergot. Gardeners' Chronicle 

 new ser., iv: 774, Dec. 18, 1875; 807, Dec. 25, 1875. 



LABORATORY WORK 



Suggestions to Teachers. A supply of ergot spurs should be kept in dried state 

 for the examination of the class. Ergoted rye heads should be kept in sufficient quan- 

 tities for class use. The teacher should gather as many specimens of Amanita muscaria 

 and A. phalloides as possible and preserve these in alcohol for class use. For the 

 chemical tests, the teacher should have pure cholin, phallin and muscarin. 



LABORATORY EXERCISES 



1. Draw and examine closely the ergoted heads of rye noting the relationship of 

 fungous sclerotia and rye host. 



2. Study cross section of the ergot sclerotia stained with Bismarck Brown and 

 mounted in balsam. 



3. Draw and study fresh (if obtainable) or Alcoholic specimens of fly agaric (Amanita 

 muscaria) and death cup (Amanita phalloides). 



4. Mount spores from these two fungi for microscopic comparison. 



5. If time permit paraffin sections of the cap and gills of one or both fleshy toadstools 

 can be given to the class for study. 



6. Test for cholin (after Haas and Hill). 



A. Boil a strong aqueous solution; decomposition ensues and trimethylamine is 

 given off, which may be recognized by its fish-like smell. 



B. Add platinic chloride to the aqueous solution; a double platinum salt is formed 

 which crystallizes on standing. The crystals are soluble in 15 per cent, alcohol. Should 

 the crystals not appear, proceed as follows: Dissolve cholin in alcohol and add alcoholic 

 solution of platinic chloride. Filter off the yellow precipitate, wash with alcohol and 

 dissolve in as little water as possible. Place the solution in a watch glass and stand in a 

 desiccator. Hexagonal plates will be deposited. 



7. In order to detect very small quantities, Rosenheim recommends the following 

 method Qourn. Physiol., 33: 220, 1905). Prepare the double platinum salt, place a 

 drop or two on a glass slip, and allow to evaporate. Add a drop of solution containing 

 2 grams of iodine and 6 grams of potassium iodide in 100 c.c. of water and examine 

 under the microscope. Dark brown prisms or plates will appear and then disappear 

 as evaporation takes place. They will reappear on adding another drop of iodine 

 solution. 



EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY 

 (See Greene, Charles W., p. 55) 



1. Ergot on the frog. Give 0.5 c.c. of the fluid extract of ergot. 



2. Ergot on the heart muscle. Change a contracting heart strip from saline to a 

 10 per cent, solution of Squibb's fluid extract of ergot in saline solution. Allow it 

 to act for five minutes. Take a continuous record. 



