15 
These specimens were placed under these several solvents on August 
IT. On August 21 the specimens were again examined, and the solu- 
tions thus obtained and also the pieces of fungus under these several 
solvents were tested with tincture of guaiacum with the following 
results : a 
(1) The aqueous solution was found to be deep brown in color, and 
1 c.c. of the solution gave a very deep indigo-blue color with guaiacum. 
A portion of the fungus that had stood under water was removed from 
the solution, washed with water, macerated with water, and filtered. 
A portion of the filtrate gave a distinct blue with guaiacum, but by no 
means was the same depth of color obtained as with the original aqueous 
solution, indicating that the greater part of the oxidase had passed into 
solution in the first portion of water. A remarkable solubilit}" in 
water seems to be a general characteristic of the vegetable oxidases. 
(2) The alcoholic solution was found to be reddish brown in color, 
and gave no test for oxidase with guaiacum. On the other hand, a 
portion of the fungus that had stood under alcohol gave on maceration 
with water an aqueous solution, which gave a splendid reaction with 
guaiacum. 
(3) The solution in amyl alcohol was found to be dark brown in 
color and the piece of fungus itself nearly black in places. The solu- 
tion gave no reaction with guaiacum, or at the most only a trace. The 
fungus which had stood under amyl alcohol gave on maceration with 
water a clear, yellowish-red solution. This with guaiacum gave a 
dark-blue coloration. 
(d) In allyl alcohol the fungus gave a pinkish solution, whereas the 
fungus itself remained nearly white. The solution gave no reaction 
with guaiacum, whereas the aqueous extract of the fungus itself was 
clear and slightly pink in color, and gave a good reaction with guaiacum, 
though somewhat slow in developing. 
(5) The solution in dO per cent formic aldehyde was wine red in 
color and clear. It gave an excellent reaction with guaiacum. The 
fungus itself was nearly white. On maceration with water, it yielded 
a slightly pink clear solution, which gave only a slight reaction with 
guaiacum. 
(6) A concentrated solution of chloral hydrate gave, on standing in 
contact with the fungus, a brownish solution, which gave no reaction 
with guaiacum. The fungus itself was nearly white, and on macera- 
tion with water }Telded a pink extract, which also gave no reaction 
with guaiacum. The oxidase, therefore, seems to be entirely destroyed 
b} T chloral hydrate. 
«In this connection the aqueous solution of Lepiota americana was also tested for 
nitrites with negative results. In a general way this confirms the observation by 
Bach, who, as opposed to Aso, found no evidence of nitrites in the oxidases of plants 
which he examined. _ 
