!9i2] CURRENT LITERATURE 345 





The same conclusion reached by Clark 1 ? by similar experimentation and 

 reasoning many years ago seems to have escaped his notice. 



Reichel 18 further points out that the addition of mineral acids to solutions 

 containing acetates produces the same effect as the addition of acetic acid, since 

 the acetic acid is replaced in its salts by the stronger acids and undissociated 

 acid is formed in the solution as a result of the establishment of a new equi- 

 librium. In solutions whose acidity is not great enough to inhibit growth 

 entirely, the author finds a certain regulatory depression of the acidity by the 

 fungus until more favorable concentrations are attained. This phase of the 

 subject seems to demand further investigation to determine whether such 

 purposeful regulation really exists. Under certain conditions, at any rate, 

 depending upon the substances available in the medium, either acid or alkali 

 will accumulate in culture solutions through the action of fungi to such a degree 

 as to inhibit growth entirely. 19 



Borkorky 20 reports a number of miscellaneous experiments and observa- 

 tions indicating that methyl alcohol can be used as a source of carbon by some 

 tungi and bacteria. A yeast not capable of fermenting cane sugar or glucose 

 grew spontaneously on a solution of mineral nutrients to which o . i per cent 

 01 methyl alcohol had been added. Inoculations from this culture were made 

 in solutions containing 0.0025 per cent to 5 per cent methyl alcohol. After a 

 time the flasks contained vegetations of yeast and bacteria and in some cases 

 infusoria were present. Apparently no precautions were taken to avoid con- 

 tamination, so that it is possible that carbon compounds were introduced in 

 the form of dust particles. 



Saito 21 reports the formation of lactic acid by Rhizopus chinensis, thus 

 confirming the observations of Eijkman and of Chrzaszcz, who reported the 

 production of lactic acid by Rhizopus Rouxii. These observations had been 

 doubted because other instances of the production of lactic acid by filamentous 

 tungi are not known. Saito identified his acid by means of the zinc and the 

 ^Icium salts and by the reaction of Uffelman. 



Goupil 22 finds that Rhizopus Rouxii produces in cultures up to 4 grams 



17 Clark, J. F., On the toxic eSect of deleterious agents on the germination and 

 development of certain filamentous fungi. Bot. Gaz. 28:289-327; 378-404. 1899. 



* Reichel, J., Ueber das Verhalten von Penicillium gegenliber der Essigsaure 

 und lhren Salzen. Biochem. Zeitschr. 30: 152-159. 1910. 



19 Hasselbrixg, H., The carbon assimilation of Penicillium. Bot. Gaz. 45: 176- 

 x 93- 1908. 



^Borkorny, Th., Beobachtungen uber Pilze, welche Methylaikohol als C-Quelle 

 venvenden konnen. Centralbl. Bkt. II. 29:176-188. 1911. 



21 Saito, K., Ein Beispiel von Milchsaurebildung durch Schimmelpilze. 

 Centralbl. Bakt. II. 29:289-290. 1911. 



22 Goupil, R., Recherches sur VAmvlomyces Rouxii. Compt. Rend. 153:1172- 

 II 74- 1911. 



