14 
these conditions, two dark-bine zones were to be seen, one in contact 
with the bubble of air and one in contact with the air filling the upper 
portion of the tube. On opening the tube containing the fungus that 
had been kept in air it was found to- have a yeasty smell, and a small 
portion of the fungus itself was found to have an acid reaction. The 
brown exudate gave a blue coloration with guaiacum, and a portion of 
the fungus, after maceration and extraction with water and filtration, 
gave a clear reddish-colored solution which gave a splendid guaiacum 
reaction which showed no tendency to change in any way. It will be 
observed, therefore, that the conduct of the exudate and the extract 
here obtained was altogether different from that obtained with the 
exudate and the extract from the fungus that had been kept in an 
atmosphere of hydrogen. 
Evidently, therefore, when the fresh fungus is kept for some time in 
an atmosphere of hydrogen, there are produced reducing substances 
sufficiently powerful to reduce guaiacum blue. Whether these are the 
products of anaerobic bacteria or of the fungus itself yet remains to be 
determined. 
OX THE COXDUCT OF THE OXIDASES OF LEPIOTA AMERICANA TOWARDS 
VARIOUS SOLVENTS. 
It has already been pointed out in a previous part of this communi- 
cation that this fungus gave up its oxidases to a preservative solution 
consisting of equal quantities of water and alcohol, containing a small 
amount of formic aldehyde, and that such a solution retained its activity 
for two or three months. It therefore occurred to me that it would 
not be without interest to study the stability and conduct of the 
oxidases of Lepiota americana toward various solvents. Accordingly, 
the pileus of perfectly fresh specimens of the fungus, the gills of 
which were either white or slightly greenish, was cut into pieces about 
an inch long by one-fourth of an inch thick and broad. These pieces 
were then immersed completely in the solvent the effect of which it 
was desired to study, and the solvent containing the fungus sealed up 
in a glass tube. 
The following solvents were studied: Water, ethyl alcohol, amyl 
alcohol, allyl alcohol, glycerin, formic aldehyde, chloral hydrate, and 
a mixture of toluene and water. 
In water, ethyl alcohol, amyl alcohol, and glycerin, the fungus was 
found to take on a beautiful rose-red color, particularly the gills. 
This finally changes to a brownish-red tint. After standing a short 
time under allyl alcohol, the pileus showed a more decided red color. 
On the other hand, formic aldehyde and chloral hydrate differ from 
the solvents just mentioned in the sense that they, like hydrogen, tend 
to bleach the fungus. 
