Clark-Kantor : Toxicological Experiments with Fungi 183 



are treated with a drop or two of Lugol's solution,* the micro- 

 scopical appearance gradually changes ; the original crystals slowly 

 disappear, the whole field becomes darker, and finally characteristic 

 brown platelets come to view in large numbers. The cholin per- 

 iodide crystals have a great similarity to the " haemin " crystals 

 obtained in Teichmann's test for hemoglobin. Upon evaporation 

 of the water, the crystalline plates lose their form and change into 

 oily drops, which immediately resume their characteristic form 

 when more Lugol's solution is added. 



Before applying the extraction and alkaloidal separation methods 

 to Inocybe we tested them upon samples of Amanita muscaria to 

 determine the efficacy of our procedures. The methods were 

 found to be satisfactory. 



Toxicological Experiments 



In our experiments to determine the toxicity of extracts upon 

 frogs we used lively animals weighing from 25 to 40 grams. All 

 injections were made into the dorsal lymph-sac except in a few 

 cases, when the toxic solution was given by mouth through a small 

 narrow pipette. A description of these experiments follows. 



Experiments with Amanita muscaria. Twenty-five grams 

 of air-dry specimens were treated and extracted as already 

 described, but no attempt was made to apply the alkaloidal separa- 

 tion process. The final volume of the aqueous solution was 15 

 c.c, which on evaporation to dryness yielded 0.18 gram of a waxy, 

 semicrystaline residue. This residue gave a striking Rosenheim 

 cholin test. 



Experiment 1. July 14, 1910. Frog 2. Weight, 27 grams. 

 Received an injection of 1 c.c. of Amanita muscaria extract at 

 2.36 P.M. 



2.38 P.M. Paralyzed after excitement. 



2.41 P.M. Paralyzed, very slight muscular reflexes. 



2.47 P.M. Heart stopped in diastole. 



Experiment 2. July 14, 1910. Frog 3. Weight, 31 grams. 

 At 9.58 A.M. received an injection of 0.5 c.c. of the extract admin- 

 istered to the frog in Experiment 1. 



* Lugol : Lugol's solution contains 4 grams of iodine and 6 grams of potas- 

 sium iodide dissolved in 100 c.c. of water. 



