424 
Fungi. 
(  Am.  Jonr.  Pharm. 
I  September,  1894. 
hydrate  in  which  a  little  iodine  is  dissolved,  when  they  separate  into 
their  component  granules.  The  hilum  is  central  (though  often  diffi- 
cult to  see  without  staining),  and  the  polarization  cross  is  therefore 
rectangular.  A  few  of  the  larger  simple  grains  show  one  or  two 
circular  stratification  lines,  but  these  as  a  usual  thing  are  difficult  to 
see  without  staining. 
No  special  secretion  cells  and  no  intercellular  secretion  reservoirs 
exist  either  in  the  roots  or  rhizome.  The  resin  that  gives  to  the 
drug  its  special  value  is  not  directly  recognizable  in  the  cells,  but  its 
presence  may  be  made  known  by  means  of  tests.  The  following 
were  applied,  both  leading  to  the  same  result.  Sections  were  treated 
with  a  solution  of  alcannin  in  50  per  cent,  alcohol  for  an  hour  or 
more  and  then  examined,  when  it  was  found  that  a  deep  red  color 
was  developed  in  many  of  the  cells,  indicating  the  presence  of  either 
resinous  or  oily  matter. 
The  color  was  most  intense  in  the  soft  tissues  of  the  vasal  bundles, 
but  the  contents  of  many  of  the  collenchyma  cells,  and  of  many  of 
the  parenchyma  cells,  both  of  the  cortex  and  of  the  pith  were  strongly 
colored.  There  were  few  of  the  thin-walled  cells  that  did  not  give 
some  indications  of  the  presence  of  resin,  though  in  many  the  quan- 
tity was  small.  In  a  few  instances,  the  resin  seemed  to  exist  in  the 
cells  in  masses  of  some  size,  as  large  as  some  of  the  larger  starch 
grains,  or  even  larger. 
As  a  confirmatory  test,  pieces  of  the  rhizome  were  soaked  for 
several  days  in  solution  of  copper  acetate,  and  then  sections  were 
made  and  examined.  The  deep  green  color,  indicative  of  resin,  was 
present  in  the  majority  of  the  cells  and  strongly  developed  in  some. 
The  distribution  of  the  stain  was  similar  to  that  which  was  observed 
as  the  result  of  the  previous  test. 
FUNGI.  ^ 
By  Henry  Kraemkr. 
During  the  past  year  or  two  the  Fungi  have  received  increased 
attention  by  both  botanists  and  chemists.  The  term  fungi  by  many 
writers  is  used  to  include  all  of  those  cryptogams  that  do  not  possess 
chlorophyll.  Hence  the  Saccharomycetes,  Schizomycetes,  Mucorini 
and  Peronosporeae  are  included  in  this  classification.   The  fungus  of 
