1046 SUMMAEY OF CURKENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Hum tas fructified the mass is treated with a solution of sodium 

 chloride, which kills the Aspergillus; another fungus, a Chalara, 

 appearing in its place, similar to that produced in the fermentation 

 of " sauerkraut." The dark-brown soja-sauce then separates. 



Penicillium-Fermeiit in Pharmaceutical Extracts.* — M. E. 

 Cocardas describes and figures the forms of Penic{llium-ievm.ent grown 

 on various pharmaceutical extracts, and arrives at the conclusion that 

 the ferment causes in the extract changes comparable to those effected 

 by heat, viz. the absorption of oxygen and disengagement of carbonic 

 acid, with formation of water, causing in consequence dilution of the 

 extract. The exact changes are, however, complex, and vary with 

 each special extract. The Penicillium itself is subject to a series of 

 variations, but these are all varieties in the evolution of a single form. 



Rhodomyces, a new Human Parasite.f — Dr. E. v. Wettstein 

 has found a fungus in the gastric juice of patients suffering from 

 pyrosis, which he describes as a new species and genus under the 

 name Rhodomyces Kochii. It was always observed outside the organism, 

 but appears to be connected with the saliva, but only in certain 

 individuals. It then shows itself as a dense delicate pink mould, the 

 structure of which is obscured by the enormous quantity of conidia. 

 Its morphological character can, therefore, only be determined by 

 culture. The author considers BJiodomyces to have the closest affinity 

 to several forms of Oidium, but is distinguished by the appearance of 

 the conidiophores, by the mode of formation of the conidia, and 

 especially by its unseptated hyphal branches. Its habit resembles 

 that of Trichothecium roseum and several other moulds. 



Fungus-disease in Daphnia.^ — Under the name Monospoza hicus- 

 pidata Professor A. Guillebeau describes a parasitic fungus which 

 attacks the great water-flea, DapJinia magna. It appears in the form 

 of chains of conidia which reproduce themselves by budding in such 

 quantities that the cavity of the body is completely filled by them, 

 tinder certain conditions a needle-shaped spore is formed within the 

 interior of the cells, surrounded by a sac derived from the cell itself, 

 which sac is not soluble either in water or various nutrient fluids, but 

 very soluble in the gastric juice of the Daplmia. As soon as these 

 spores lose their envelope, they penetrate into the cavity of the body 

 of the host, and there develope fresh conidia. The increase of the 

 parasite is impeded, and sometimes entirely prevented, by the blood- 

 cells which surround the spores, and which exercise a digestive effect 

 upon them. 



Protophyta. 



Beggiatoa alba.§ — Prof. J. B. Schnetzler has observed this organism 

 forming gelatinous greyish floating masses in the effluent water from 



* Bull. Soc. Bot. France, vii. (1885) pp. 146-9 (1 pL). 



t SB. K. K. Akad. Wiss. Wien, xci. (1885) pp. 33-58 (1 pi.). See Oester. 

 Bot. Zeitschr., xxxv. (1885) p. 287. 



X SB. Naturf. Gesell. Bern, 1884, pp. 9-11. 



§ Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sci. Nat., xxi. (1885) pp. 68-70. 



