370 



The Fungus Disease of India. 



[part II. 



these filaments are not distinguishable from those of fungi, but they do not appear 

 to contain any plasma. 



They are capable of withstanding the influence of a large number of powerful 

 re-agents as the following list will indicate : — 



Potash has no destructive influence upon the filaments, or on the capsules associated 

 with them. 



Carbolic Acid and Alcohol. — No effect after 15 minutes, nor did the subsequent 

 addition of potash alter the appearance of the preparation. 



Bisulphide of Carbon. — No effect. 



Benzene. — Filaments were boiled in this fluid for several hours, and also in 

 chloroform, without producing any marked change. 



Olive Oil and Animal Fat (butter). — Various specimens were boiled in these 



Fig. 13. — Fungoid filaments and capsules obtained after prolonged maceration 

 of the black substance in caustic potash, x .500. 



substances without result, except that, eventually, the filaments became charred owing 

 to the high heat to which the oils had been subjected. Some specimens were subjected 

 to being treated in oil for 12 hours over a water bath. 



Tincture of Iodine stains them yellow, and sometimes appears by its reaction to 

 suggest that the tubes and cells are not void of plasma, as they appear to be prior to 

 the addition of the iodine. It never communicates a blue tint to any of these structures 

 — not even when combined with sulphuric acid. 



Sulphuric Acid destroys the filaments, so does concentrated hydrochloric acid, 

 perhaps owing to the presence of sulphuric in it. 



Oxalic Acid also, when concentrated, causes the filaments to disappear. 



Carmine. — After prolonged immersion in an ammoniacal solution of this material 

 the filaments and cells become stained. 



Filaments of various fungi, when treated with the foregoing re-agents, were found 



