Sulphur is an essential element in the cell because it is a component part of certain indispensable proteins. The metabolism or decomposition of various sulphur compounds by bacteria has been investigated by several workers, but the metabolism of the fungi with reference to such compounds has been little studied and is poorly understood. The activity of the sulphofying organisms of the soil has been a field for considerable investigation in recent years. It has been shown that these organisms bring about the change of the organic sulphur of the soil into sulphates which become available for crops. The oxidation of sulphur by such organisms has been shown to be of value in making available the phosphorus of mineral phosphates (McLean, '18). Sulphur metabolism may also play a beneficial role in sewage disposal in that certain species of bacteria may cause the oxidation of sulphur and of hydrogen sulphide to sulphates, thus reducing the amount of odor. Attempts have been made to apply
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George M. Armstrong (1921) studied this question.