Malachite green metabolized into LMG. Only the cation MG is deeply colored, whereas the leuco and alcohol derivatives are not. This difference arises because only the cationic form has extended pi-delocalization, which allows the molecule to absorb visible light. The leuco form of malachite green was first prepared by Hermann Fischer in 1877 by condensing benzaldehyde and dimethylaniline in the molecular ratio 1:2 in the presence of sulfuric acid. Malachite green is traditionally used as a dye. Kilotonnes of MG and related triarylmethane dyes are produced annually for this purpose. MG is active against the oomycete "Saprolegnia", which infects fish eggs in
The Malachite Box of the miners and gold prospectors. After the initial publication, the author continuously added new stories to the collection, such as the so-called "mountain fairy tales" in 1942, "Stories of Germans" () in 1943, a series of stories about Russian steel-makers and coiners in 1944–1945, "Stories of Lenin" () in 1944–1945, and others. Every edition of the collection ended with the dictionary of unusual words and concepts. "The Watchhouse on Dumna Mountain" () was Bazhov's essay which served as an introduction to the first edition of "The Malachite Box". It contained some information about the life, industry and culture at