The poisonous principles contained in the plants described in this book are now known to exist even under cultivation, although cultivation may modify their virulence and exposure also to the influence of heat, acids of antiseptic would seem in many cases to render the toxin inert. Sea-water or the iodine contained it, appears to be incompatible to vegetable toxins and it is an interesting and significant fact that iodine, besides being antagonistic to very many of the alkaloids will destroy most of micro-fungi and those of the bacteria which cause infectious disease. Among micro-fungi the Pyrenomycetes, Carpomycetes and Oomycetes need a living host, which they have the power of selecting i.e., Puccinia graminis selects wheat and Barbery, while P. Coronata prefers grass and Buckthorn, Pencillium and Aspergillus, however, will thrive equally on living or dead organic food-material.
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