Melzer's Reagent

[HILL at RHODES.EDU]

Tryggvi Emilsson writes:

	Does anybody know the purpose of the chloral hydrate in Meltzer's 	
	reagent???  It seems ridiculous that amateur mycologists should need a 	
	DEA permit to procure materials for a simple test,described in every 	
	field guide.  Has anybody experimented with alternative recipes?

I posed the same question to Jim Kimbrough about a year ago, and his answer was 
that the "old-time" mycologists included it as an antimicrobial agent.  I 
proceded to make some up without the chloral hydrate and it worked fine.  As to 
whether the solution ever spoiled, I don't know, because I used it all up!

	Terry Hill