EFFECTS OF MINERAL SALTS. 153 



expectation of their growtli in that substance. 

 The reason is, the soda in albumen is in the 

 state of albuminate of soda, which is a neutral 

 salt, and therefore, according to the experiments 

 on neutral salts, no development of mycelium 

 could arise from it. It is not unlikely that 

 a closer investigation of these phenomena might 

 lead ultimately to such a course of management 

 as greatly to check the various fungi infesting 

 the vegetable tribes, and therefore they have 

 been brought in this place before the notice of 

 the reader : it will be well if any person who 

 has leisure and talent should be inclined to 

 make experiments with this design. 



Not the least curious of these interesting 

 experiments of Dutrochet, were the effects of 

 certain substances which he added to the 

 original mixtures. 



"When mercury was added in its metallic con- 

 dition, the growth of the moulds was neither 

 impeded nor accelerated. 



Red oxide of mercury, corrosive sublimate, 

 and other salts of mercury, completely 'prevented 

 all development of mycelium, and no moulds 

 were seen. 



But iEthiop's mineral, or sulphuret of mer- 

 cury, allowed the moulds to vegetate freely. 



