520 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
The nutrient substances are derived from ammonia and the must acids, 
and rapid growth takes place in ammonia. Sulphurous acid, tannin, 
and acetic acid inhibit the growth of these yeasts, and darkness is more 
favourable to their development than light. 
The results from competition with different wine yeasts vary with 
the fermentive power ; for if strong the wine yeasts prevail, and if weak 
the mucous yeasts gain the upper hand. The constitution of the wine 
was found to be a potent factor ; for wines containing much alcohol and 
tannic acid were naturally resistant to the infection ; while poor thin 
but sweet wines were easily liable to the affection. 
Protection against ropiness is to be found in firing the casks, the 
use of pure strong yeasts, and the addition of tannic acid (4 grm. per 
hectolitre). 
Saccharomyces septicus.* — Dr. L. De Gaetano describes a blasto- 
.mycete which, when injected into the peritoneal sac of a guinea-pig, 
caused death within 12 hours from fibrinous peritonitis and general 
sepsis. Saccharomyces septicus grows best on the following media: — 
(1) Bouillon-potato infusion 1000 grm., Liebig’s extract 20 grm., pepton 
10 grm., grape-sugar 100 grm., ^tartaric acid 5-10 grm. (2) Agar-potato 
infusion 1000 grm., Liebig’s extract 20 grm., pepton 10 grm., agar 2-3 
per cent. The organism stains well with Gram and Weigert. 
Vitality of Dried Yeast.t — Herr H. Will continues to test three 
samples of dried yeast kept for 12 years and 2 months. Though one 
sample had died owing to damage to the box in which it was kept, the 
other two samples were found to be still quite alive when tested on wort. 
Spore-formation in Dematium pullulans. — Dr. F. Weleminsky J 
claims to have observed the formation of endogenous spores in a specimen 
of Dematium pullulans de Bary. Two specimens were found together, 
and were cultivated on wort gelatin. Both grew not only in the ordinary 
way, producing resting cells and laterally sprouting conids, but also 
endogenous cells, i. e. spores, in the course of the same mycele. One of 
these original specimens lost the power of producing spores after one 
generation, while the other maintained the power. Several other culture- 
media were tried, the best results coming from simple wine-juice. Spore- 
formation vras not observed on gypsum blocks ; spores were reproduced 
from cultures which had been allowed to dry for three weeks. The 
author is of opinion that D. pullulans should be classed with the Asco- 
mycetes, and near to Saccharomyces and Exoascus. 
Herren A. Klocker and H. Schionning§ are of opinion that the 
bodies described by Weleminsky as spores are really conids, the result 
of ingrowth from an adjacent mycele. The complete details are pro- 
mised later. 
Systematic Position of Trichophyton. || — MM. L. Matruchot and 
Ch. Dassonville express the opinion that Trichophyton should be placed 
in the natural family of Gymnoasci. The genus to which it bears most 
similarity is Ctenomyces. The general grounds on which they base this 
* Riforma Med., 1897, No. 200. See Centralbl. Bakt. u. Par., l te Abt., xxv. 
(1899) p. 833. 
t Zeitschr. f. d. gesammte Brauwesen, 1899, p. 43. See Centralbl. Bakt. u. Par., 
2 te "Abt., v. (1899) p. 527. 
' X Centralbl. Bakt. u. Par., 2 te Abt., v. (1899) pp. 297-303 (9 figs.). 
§ Tom. cit., pp. 505-7. || Comptes Ren <1 us, cxxviii. (1899) pp. 1411-3. 
