July, 1922] BONNS — A STUDY OF CLAVICEPS PURPUREA 
in the presence of ergotoxine in the cultures, in the Hght of chemical ex- 
amination. The qualitative test was made upon a very small amount of 
material, so that analyses upon a larger scale will be necessary before 
this fact will be established with certainty. It is highly possible, however, 
that the presence of the alkaloid is directly associated with changes in- 
volving sclerotial formation, and the present work conforms with that of 
its predecessors in failure to obtain this resting stage under cultural 
conditions. 
In the light of the present study it appears extremely doubtful that 
the artificial culture of Claviceps possesses practical application. There 
are several factors indicated by this preliminary work which need to be 
determined before a definite conclusion in this respect may be drawn. 
(1) The organism must be grown in quantities sufiicient to make prac- 
ticable a careful quantitative and qualitative study of the physiologically 
active principles present. 
(2) The marked variation in growth response to different media indi- 
cates that its behavior and constitution under cultural conditions of known 
pH values would afford a valuable field of investigation. 
The writer gratefully acknowledges the cooperation of Messrs. Edward 
Swanson and C. H. Hargreaves of the Department of Experimental Medi- 
cine of this company, who prepared the extracts and performed the physio- 
logical tests reported. Thanks are due Mr. G. Rudolph Miller for in- 
struction and generous assistance in photomicrography, and to Dr. M. W. 
Gardner of Purdue University for similar favors. Mr. F. J. Bacon, assistant 
botanist, has been of great service in preparing material for microscopic 
study and in general assistance. 
Botanical Research Laboratory, 
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis. Ind. 
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