362 ABSTRACTS OF UHEhIICAL PAPERS. P h y s i o l o g i c a l C b e m i s t r y . Digestive Ferments in Crustacean Eggs. By J. E. Amr,ous and I!. HEIM (Compt. Tend. Xoc. Biol., 1891, 273--275).-Various crustacean eggs were found to contain an amylolytic, an inverting, and a tryptic ferment. Their amount and activity probably varies with the degree of maturity of the eggs. These are regarded as enzymes, not as orgnnised ferments. Formation of Sugar in the Organism when Oxygen is deficient. By A. DBSTKE (Compt rend. SOC. R i d , 1891, 681 -684). -The recent experiments of Amki (Abstr., 1891,1125-1392) and by Zillessen (ibid., 1126) are merely confirmatory of some of fi more corn- W. D. H.PHTSTOLOGICAL GHEXISTRT. 3 6.3 plete nature made by the author some years ago (GZyc6mie asphyzique, 1879) ; these are not dluded to b y the authors j u s t mentioned. Gases of Peptone Blood.By RLACHSTE IN (A&. f. Anat. U. P h y ~ i d . , Ph?ysioZ. Ahth., 1891, 3!kh-401) .-In dogs, Labousse (Abstr., 1889, 5:31) has shown tbat injection of “ peptone ” lessens t h e amount of carbonic anhydride in the blood, whilst the oxygen reniains normal, or rather over the normal. It is now shown t h a t in the rabbit, a n animal whose blood is not rendered incoagulable by peptone, the same change in the blood gases occurs. Moreovei., t h e amount of carbonic anhydride in the lymph is not lessened, and so t h e diminution is not explicable on the ground of lessened metiibolism. The Specific Gravity of the Blood of Europeans living in the Tropics. By M.GLOGNER (Virchow’s Archiv, 126, 109-1 13). -The specific gravity of the blood was estimated by Hammerschlag’s method. A drop of blood is placed in a mixture of benzene and chloroform, and then benzene or alcohol, as the case may be, is added iintil the drop of blood swims. The mixture is filtered through l i ~ e n , and its specific gravity, taken with the hydrometer, gives that of the blood. The persons, 20 in number, on whom the observations were made were Europeans who had lived for varying periods in the East India Llands (six months to 29 years), and were suffering from varying degrees of “ tropical anEmia.” The average number of corpuscles was found to be normal ; but the sp. gr was 1.0% instead of the normal 1.062. The anpmia thus appears to be due to loss i n the constit,uents (probably prote’ids) dissolved in the blood plasma.By C. EIJKMBN (Virchow’s Archiv, 1 2 6 , 113- 124) .--This iiivestigation resembles that in the preceding abstract, hnt is rather more extensive. The specific gravity of blood was esti- mated by Schmaltz’ capillary pycnometer (Arch. KZin. Med., 1890) ; the corpusciilar richness by counting ; t h e percentage of hemoglobin by Flcischl’s haemometer. Observations were made both on Malays and Europeans, t h e latter being classified according t o their length of residence in the tropics. The blood on t h e average. gave throughout practically the same number of corpuscles, and the same percentage of hemoglobin. The average specific gravity was 1,057, length of stay in the Indies making no difference.Schmaltz gives t h e normal specific gravity as 1.059 ; so there is a slight fall, but nothirig like so great as in the more familiar forms of anemia. By V. HARLEY (J. PPhysioZ., l2,391--408).-In view of Schenk’s statement ( A bstr., 1891, 350, 504) that a considerable amount of sugar is lost when it is esti- mated in albuminous mixtures such as serum, a number of investiga- tions were made on this subject. A known amouiit of dextrose was mixed with defibrinated calf’s blood, the prote’ids removed by acetic acid, heat, and filtration, and the sugar estimated in the filtrate and washings ; t h e loss varied from 0 to 4.8 per cent. The reason of the W. D. H. W. D. H. W. D. H. Tropical Anemia. W. D. H. Disappearance of Sugar from the Blood.364 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS.variation appears to be the behaviour of the prote‘id on heat coagulation ; if the coagulum formed is dense and firm, the loss of sugar is great. If the proteid separates in loose, flocculent curds, the precipitate is more readily washed, and the loss of sugar reduced to a minimum. Similar results followed experiments made with blood drawn directly from an artery in a living animal, and also when other met,hods of precipitating the proteids (potassio-mercuric iodide, mercuric chloride) were employed ; and the general conclusion is drawn that the loss of sugar is due to mechanical retention by, not chemical combination with, the coagulated prote’id. In addition to this, however, the element of time has to be taken into account; the longer the blood, if fresh, and sugar solutions are mixed, the greater is the loss of the sugar ; this is not due to bacteria. The glycolvsis is of a progressive character.W. D. H. Glycolytic Power of Blood and Artificial Production of Diabetes. By R. LBPINE and BARRAL (Compt. ?-end., 113, 729-730). -Moderate bleeding of a dog at first (after a short time) increases the glycolytic power of the blood, but repeated bleeding reduces it,. Ligature of Wirsung’s canal causes a great increase of the glycolytic power of the blood. Giiitzner found that under the same conditions there was an increase in the saccharifying power of the urine, and the authors find that this is true also of the blood. Section of the nerves of the pancreas is followed by a great increase in the glycolytic and saccharifying power of the blood. Electrification of the lower end of the pancreatic nerves produces diabetes after a short time.C. H. B. Influence of Muscular Work on the Elimination of Creatinine. By J. MOITESSIER (Compt. rend. Soc. Rid., 1891, 573--574).-After muscular work (walking), no increase in the amount of weatinine in the urine was observed. The experiments were made on t.he author’s own person. W. D. H. Xanthocreatinine in the Urine. By G. COLOSANTJ ( Gazzetta, 21, ii, 188--192).-The urine of the lion is very rich in urea, which, when extracted by Hoppe- Seyler’s method, crystallises in thin, snow- white scales, not i n needles as does that obtained from the urine of the dog. The alcoholic mother liquor from the crystallisation and washing of the urea when concentrated is of a sjrupy consistency, and bas an aromatic odour; i t contains, besides much creatinine, xanthocreatinine, which may be separated as ’ a yellow, crystalline powder.Monari (Abstr., 1886, 613) has shown that if large quantities of creatine, or creatinine, are introduced into the circulation, either by intravascular injection o r as the result of excessive muscular effort., t,he bases are partly eliminated as xanthocreatinine. As bhe rich meat, diet of the lion introduces into the system large quantities of crea- tine, the author supposes that part of the base is secreted a s xautho- creatinine. w. J. P.PHYSIOLOGIC A L OHE3IISTRY. 365 IS Alcohol Eliminatsd by ths Milk? By F. R L i N G E m x N ( V~TC~LOW’R Archie, 126, 72--80).--Hy administering fairly large doses of alcoholic liquors to nursing women, none was ever f o u n d in the milk.I n animals in which proportionally larger doses were given, minute traces were occasionally found. Action of Pilocarpine on the Excretion of Milk. By. C. CORNEVIN (Compt. rend. SOC. Riol., 1891, 6%-630).-Pilocarpine IS a drug which increases the amount of many secretions, such as sweat and saliva. By experiments on cows, it was, however, found that it does not increase the amount of milk secreted. Analysis of the milk showed a slight increase in the amount of lactose. There is no gig- cosuria. W. D. H. W. D. H. Excretion of Uric Acid and Urea. By W. P, HERRINGHAM and H. 0. DAVIES (J. Physiol., 12, 475--477).-Haig states that the pro- portion of uric acid to urea varies inversely with the daily total acidity of the urine.Haig estimated uric acid by Haycraft’s method. In the present research, uric acid was estimated by Ludwig’s modifica- tion of Salkowski’s process, and urea by the hypobromite method. Two experiments were made, one of 16 days on a mixed diet, onc of eight days on a vegetable diet. The proportion of uric acid to urea varied, but bore no fixed relation to the total acidity of the urine. Excretion of Uric Acid, Urea, and Ammonia. By W. P. HERRINGHAM and E. W. GROVES ( J . Physiol., 12, 478-484.)-A series of experiments similar to the preceding, but performed more carefully, the composition of tbe diet being noted. The results obtained showed that the excretion of uric acid does not vary inversely with the daily acidity of the urine, aad that uric acid may be passed to the amount of .‘,t,h of the urea without bad effects.On three occasions sodinrn salicylate was given; these coincided with large excretions of uric acid. This may, however, have been due to the salicyluric acid in the urine ; or i t may have been accidental, as on other days, when no drug was given, the excretion was as large, W. D. H. W. D. H. Heat Production in Nerves during Excitation. By G. N. STEWAW (J. Yhysiol., 12, 409--425).-1n the nerves of rabbits and dogs there is not even a rise of temperature of the general nerve sheath of H$aat,h of a degree during excitation. On theoretical grounds, the statement of Rolleston CAbstr., 1890, 536), that a frog’s nerve gives off heat when i t dies, is considered to be erroneous.W. D. H. Physiological Action of Nickel Carbon Oxide. By M. HAS- RioT and c. KICHET (C‘ompt. rend. HOG. Bid., 1891, 185--186).-This compound is extremely poisonous. The blood shows the spectrum of carbonic oxide haemoglobin. (Compare McKendrick and Snod- grass, Abstr., 1891, 1130.) Physiological Action of Nickel Carbon Oxide. By P. LANGLO~S (C‘ornpt. rend. Soc. Riol., 1891, 212--213).-T*he oxygen of VOL. LXII. 2 G W. I). H.3 6 6 ARSTRXCTS OF CHEIIICAL PAPERS. oxyhmmoglobin is displaced by this substance, but it is regarded as unsettled whether the compound formed is carbonic oxide haemo- globin, or harnoglobin united t o the nickel compound. W. D. H. Physiological Action of Trimethylamine. By COMREM ALE and BRUNELLE (Compt. rend.SOC. Uiol., 1891, 175--178).-Inhalation of the vapour of trimethylamine produces an increased secretion of saliva. The same effect follows its administration by the mouth, or under the skin, The alkalinity of the saliva is greater than normal. Occasionally vomiting is produced, also increase of the nasal mucus aiid of tears. There is always slight albuniinuria. After sub- cutaneoiis administration, there is local inflammation a t the point of injrctioni leaving a wound which takes a long time to heal. A dose of 3 centigrams per kilo. of body weight causes a lowering of body temperature. W. I). H. Physiological Action of Dinitrobenzene. By A. HURER (Virchods Archiv, 126, 240-270) .-The main effects of dinitro- benzene, as tested on both cold- and warm-blooded animals, are changes i n the blood, paralysis, and intense dyspnoea.The blood becomes of a dark chocolate coloiir ; the red corpuscles are largely deprived of their pigment, which in frogs partly collects round the nucleus. Spectroscopic investigation showed an absorption band in the red, reminding one of the similar band of acid h ~ m n t i n , and of methaemo- globin, b u t not identical with either. It is spoken of as the dinitro- benzene band, and it is considered that this compound acts in a specific manner on the blood pigment. After large doses, the urine was found to be brown in colour, and to contain a strongly reducing substance, and sometimes diriitrobenzene was itself present. The body temperature is lowered. The illness which workers in roburite factories suffer from appears to be caused by dinitrobenzene fumes.W. D H. Relation between the Chemical Constitution and Physio- logical Action of Compounds of the Aromatic Series. By G. ODDO (Guzzetta, 21, ii, 237-258).- BENZENE NUCLEUS.-I. 5atobenzene.-This componnd, prepared by the author’s method (Abstr., 1891, 696), has a very energetic antipyretic and analgesic action on mammals, both in the normal and febrile conditions. I t s snt,ipyretic action is probably more powerful than that of any other known substance, the temperature i n mammals falling almost to the point of collapse wit>h complete anmthesia; these effects last for 24 or more hours, paralysis and death often supervening. The action is accompanied by a rise in the pulse rate, and does not commence until some hours after admi- nistration, probably owing to its insolubility; the acidity of the stomach also affects the rapidity and extent of the action.It is probably eliminated from tho body by the skin and luugs. Frogs, on the other hand, exhibit convulsive movements and depressed pulse. It thus appears that azoimide does not retain its physiological pro- perties (Ber., 1890, 1023 ; Abstr., 1891, 56 and 524) when in com- bination with organic radicles.VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 367 11. Benzamide acts as a gentle antipyretic; its action is rapidly It probably passes from the system developed. and soon ceases. t1,roiigh the skin and lungs. NAPHTHALENE NUCLEUS -Ethyl a-naphthylaroacetoacetate, C ,,H,*N,*CHAc*CO OEt (Ahstr., 1891, 1.381), gave neqatfive results in experiments on dogs and frogs.a- Acetonuphthalide, which resembles some well-known antipyretics of t h e benzene groiip in constitution, likewise gave rise to no noteworthy symptoms. This behaviour is attributed by the author to the physioiogical inactivity of the naphthalene nucleus. The phenrtuthrene nucleus appears to be similarly inactive, a sub- cutaneous injection of 0.04 gram only feebly affecting a frog. In conclusion, the aiithor ascribes the antipyretic properties of benzene compounds to the presence of the benzene nucleus, and regards the absence of tbese properties from naphthalene compouuds as indicative of the absence of a preformed benzene nucleus from these substances and hence as con6rmatory of Barn berger’s centric formuh.S. B. A. A.362 ABSTRACTS OF UHEhIICAL PAPERS.P h y s i o l o g i c a l C b e m i s t r y .Digestive Ferments in Crustacean Eggs. By J. E. Amr,ousand I!. HEIM (Compt. Tend. Xoc. Biol., 1891, 273--275).-Variouscrustacean eggs were found to contain an amylolytic, an inverting, anda tryptic ferment. Their amount and activity probably varies withthe degree of maturity of the eggs. These are regarded as enzymes,not as orgnnised ferments.Formation of Sugar in the Organism when Oxygen isdeficient. By A. DBSTKE (Compt rend. SOC. R i d , 1891, 681 -684).-The recent experiments of Amki (Abstr., 1891,1125-1392) and byZillessen (ibid., 1126) are merely confirmatory of some of fi more corn-W. D. HPHTSTOLOGICAL GHEXISTRT. 3 6.3plete nature made by the author some years ago (GZyc6mie asphyzique,1879) ; these are not dluded to b y the authors j u s t mentioned.Gases of Peptone Blood.By RLACHSTE IN (A&. f. Anat. U. P h y ~ i d . ,Ph?ysioZ. Ahth., 1891, 3!kh-401) .-In dogs, Labousse (Abstr., 1889,5:31) has shown tbat injection of “ peptone ” lessens t h e amount ofcarbonic anhydride in the blood, whilst the oxygen reniains normal,or rather over the normal. It is now shown t h a t in the rabbit, a nanimal whose blood is not rendered incoagulable by peptone, the samechange in the blood gases occurs. Moreovei., t h e amount of carbonicanhydride in the lymph is not lessened, and so t h e diminution is notexplicable on the ground of lessened metiibolism.The Specific Gravity of the Blood of Europeans living inthe Tropics.By M. GLOGNER (Virchow’s Archiv, 126, 109-1 13).-The specific gravity of the blood was estimated by Hammerschlag’smethod. A drop of blood is placed in a mixture of benzene andchloroform, and then benzene or alcohol, as the case may be, is addediintil the drop of blood swims. The mixture is filtered throughl i ~ e n , and its specific gravity, taken with the hydrometer, gives thatof the blood.The persons, 20 in number, on whom the observations were madewere Europeans who had lived for varying periods in the East IndiaLlands (six months to 29 years), and were suffering from varyingdegrees of “ tropical anEmia.” The average number of corpuscles wasfound to be normal ; but the sp. gr was 1.0% instead of the normal1.062.The anpmia thus appears to be due to loss i n the constit,uents(probably prote’ids) dissolved in the blood plasma.By C. EIJKMBN (Virchow’s Archiv, 1 2 6 , 113-124) .--This iiivestigation resembles that in the preceding abstract,hnt is rather more extensive. The specific gravity of blood was esti-mated by Schmaltz’ capillary pycnometer (Arch. KZin. Med., 1890) ;the corpusciilar richness by counting ; t h e percentage of hemoglobinby Flcischl’s haemometer. Observations were made both on Malaysand Europeans, t h e latter being classified according t o their length ofresidence in the tropics. The blood on t h e average. gave throughoutpractically the same number of corpuscles, and the same percentageof hemoglobin. The average specific gravity was 1,057, length ofstay in the Indies making no difference.Schmaltz gives t h e normalspecific gravity as 1.059 ; so there is a slight fall, but nothirig like sogreat as in the more familiar forms of anemia.By V. HARLEY (J.PPhysioZ., l2,391--408).-In view of Schenk’s statement ( A bstr., 1891,350, 504) that a considerable amount of sugar is lost when it is esti-mated in albuminous mixtures such as serum, a number of investiga-tions were made on this subject. A known amouiit of dextrose wasmixed with defibrinated calf’s blood, the prote’ids removed by aceticacid, heat, and filtration, and the sugar estimated in the filtrate andwashings ; t h e loss varied from 0 to 4.8 per cent. The reason of theW. D. H.W. D. H.W.D. H.Tropical Anemia.W. D. H.Disappearance of Sugar from the Blood364 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS.variation appears to be the behaviour of the prote‘id on heat coagulation ;if the coagulum formed is dense and firm, the loss of sugar is great. Ifthe proteid separates in loose, flocculent curds, the precipitate is morereadily washed, and the loss of sugar reduced to a minimum.Similar results followed experiments made with blood drawndirectly from an artery in a living animal, and also when othermet,hods of precipitating the proteids (potassio-mercuric iodide,mercuric chloride) were employed ; and the general conclusion isdrawn that the loss of sugar is due to mechanical retention by, notchemical combination with, the coagulated prote’id. In addition tothis, however, the element of time has to be taken into account; thelonger the blood, if fresh, and sugar solutions are mixed, the greateris the loss of the sugar ; this is not due to bacteria.The glycolvsisis of a progressive character. W. D. H.Glycolytic Power of Blood and Artificial Production ofDiabetes. By R. LBPINE and BARRAL (Compt. ?-end., 113, 729-730).-Moderate bleeding of a dog at first (after a short time) increasesthe glycolytic power of the blood, but repeated bleeding reduces it,.Ligature of Wirsung’s canal causes a great increase of the glycolyticpower of the blood. Giiitzner found that under the same conditionsthere was an increase in the saccharifying power of the urine, and theauthors find that this is true also of the blood.Section of the nervesof the pancreas is followed by a great increase in the glycolytic andsaccharifying power of the blood. Electrification of the lower endof the pancreatic nerves produces diabetes after a short time.C. H. B.Influence of Muscular Work on the Elimination of Creatinine.By J. MOITESSIER (Compt. rend. Soc. Rid., 1891, 573--574).-Aftermuscular work (walking), no increase in the amount of weatinine inthe urine was observed. The experiments were made on t.he author’sown person. W. D. H.Xanthocreatinine in the Urine. By G. COLOSANTJ ( Gazzetta,21, ii, 188--192).-The urine of the lion is very rich in urea, which,when extracted by Hoppe- Seyler’s method, crystallises in thin, snow-white scales, not i n needles as does that obtained from the urine ofthe dog.The alcoholic mother liquor from the crystallisation andwashing of the urea when concentrated is of a sjrupy consistency,and bas an aromatic odour; i t contains, besides much creatinine,xanthocreatinine, which may be separated as ’ a yellow, crystallinepowder.Monari (Abstr., 1886, 613) has shown that if large quantities ofcreatine, or creatinine, are introduced into the circulation, either byintravascular injection o r as the result of excessive muscular effort.,t,he bases are partly eliminated as xanthocreatinine. As bhe rich meat,diet of the lion introduces into the system large quantities of crea-tine, the author supposes that part of the base is secreted a s xautho-creatinine. w. J.PPHYSIOLOGIC A L OHE3IISTRY. 365IS Alcohol Eliminatsd by ths Milk? By F. R L i N G E m x N( V~TC~LOW’R Archie, 126, 72--80).--Hy administering fairly large dosesof alcoholic liquors to nursing women, none was ever f o u n d in themilk. I n animals in which proportionally larger doses were given,minute traces were occasionally found.Action of Pilocarpine on the Excretion of Milk. By. C.CORNEVIN (Compt. rend. SOC. Riol., 1891, 6%-630).-Pilocarpine IS adrug which increases the amount of many secretions, such as sweatand saliva. By experiments on cows, it was, however, found that itdoes not increase the amount of milk secreted. Analysis of the milkshowed a slight increase in the amount of lactose. There is no gig-cosuria. W. D. H.W. D. H.Excretion of Uric Acid and Urea.By W. P, HERRINGHAM andH. 0. DAVIES (J. Physiol., 12, 475--477).-Haig states that the pro-portion of uric acid to urea varies inversely with the daily totalacidity of the urine. Haig estimated uric acid by Haycraft’s method.In the present research, uric acid was estimated by Ludwig’s modifica-tion of Salkowski’s process, and urea by the hypobromite method.Two experiments were made, one of 16 days on a mixed diet, onc ofeight days on a vegetable diet. The proportion of uric acid to ureavaried, but bore no fixed relation to the total acidity of the urine.Excretion of Uric Acid, Urea, and Ammonia. By W. P.HERRINGHAM and E. W. GROVES ( J . Physiol., 12, 478-484.)-A seriesof experiments similar to the preceding, but performed more carefully,the composition of tbe diet being noted.The results obtained showedthat the excretion of uric acid does not vary inversely with the dailyacidity of the urine, aad that uric acid may be passed to the amountof .‘,t,h of the urea without bad effects. On three occasions sodinrnsalicylate was given; these coincided with large excretions of uricacid. This may, however, have been due to the salicyluric acid inthe urine ; or i t may have been accidental, as on other days, when nodrug was given, the excretion was as large,W. D. H.W. D. H.Heat Production in Nerves during Excitation. By G. N.STEWAW (J. Yhysiol., 12, 409--425).-1n the nerves of rabbits anddogs there is not even a rise of temperature of the general nervesheath of H$aat,h of a degree during excitation. On theoreticalgrounds, the statement of Rolleston CAbstr., 1890, 536), that a frog’snerve gives off heat when i t dies, is considered to be erroneous.W. D.H.Physiological Action of Nickel Carbon Oxide. By M. HAS-RioT and c. KICHET (C‘ompt. rend. HOG. Bid., 1891, 185--186).-Thiscompound is extremely poisonous. The blood shows the spectrumof carbonic oxide haemoglobin. (Compare McKendrick and Snod-grass, Abstr., 1891, 1130.)Physiological Action of Nickel Carbon Oxide. By P.LANGLO~S (C‘ornpt. rend. Soc. Riol., 1891, 212--213).-T*he oxygen ofVOL. LXII. 2 GW. I). H3 6 6 ARSTRXCTS OF CHEIIICAL PAPERS.oxyhmmoglobin is displaced by this substance, but it is regarded asunsettled whether the compound formed is carbonic oxide haemo-globin, or harnoglobin united t o the nickel compound.W.D. H.Physiological Action of Trimethylamine. By COMREM ALE andBRUNELLE (Compt. rend. SOC. Uiol., 1891, 175--178).-Inhalation ofthe vapour of trimethylamine produces an increased secretion ofsaliva. The same effect follows its administration by the mouth, orunder the skin, The alkalinity of the saliva is greater than normal.Occasionally vomiting is produced, also increase of the nasal mucusaiid of tears. There is always slight albuniinuria. After sub-cutaneoiis administration, there is local inflammation a t the point ofinjrctioni leaving a wound which takes a long time to heal. A doseof 3 centigrams per kilo. of body weight causes a lowering of bodytemperature.W. I). H.Physiological Action of Dinitrobenzene. By A. HURER(Virchods Archiv, 126, 240-270) .-The main effects of dinitro-benzene, as tested on both cold- and warm-blooded animals, are changesi n the blood, paralysis, and intense dyspnoea. The blood becomes ofa dark chocolate coloiir ; the red corpuscles are largely deprived oftheir pigment, which in frogs partly collects round the nucleus.Spectroscopic investigation showed an absorption band in the red,reminding one of the similar band of acid h ~ m n t i n , and of methaemo-globin, b u t not identical with either. It is spoken of as the dinitro-benzene band, and it is considered that this compound acts in aspecific manner on the blood pigment. After large doses, the urinewas found to be brown in colour, and to contain a strongly reducingsubstance, and sometimes diriitrobenzene was itself present.Thebody temperature is lowered. The illness which workers in roburitefactories suffer from appears to be caused by dinitrobenzene fumes.W. D H.Relation between the Chemical Constitution and Physio-logical Action of Compounds of the Aromatic Series. By G.ODDO (Guzzetta, 21, ii, 237-258).-BENZENE NUCLEUS.-I. 5atobenzene.-This componnd, preparedby the author’s method (Abstr., 1891, 696), has a very energeticantipyretic and analgesic action on mammals, both in the normaland febrile conditions. I t s snt,ipyretic action is probably morepowerful than that of any other known substance, the temperaturei n mammals falling almost to the point of collapse wit>h completeanmthesia; these effects last for 24 or more hours, paralysis anddeath often supervening. The action is accompanied by a rise inthe pulse rate, and does not commence until some hours after admi-nistration, probably owing to its insolubility; the acidity of thestomach also affects the rapidity and extent of the action. It isprobably eliminated from tho body by the skin and luugs. Frogs,on the other hand, exhibit convulsive movements and depressed pulse.It thus appears that azoimide does not retain its physiological pro-perties (Ber., 1890, 1023 ; Abstr., 1891, 56 and 524) when in com-bination with organic radiclesVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 36711. Benzamide acts as a gentle antipyretic; its action is rapidlyIt probably passes from the system developed. and soon ceases.t1,roiigh the skin and lungs.NAPHTHALENE NUCLEUS -Ethyl a-naphthylaroacetoacetate,C ,,H,*N,*CHAc*CO OEt(Ahstr., 1891, 1.381), gave neqatfive results in experiments on dogsand frogs. a- Acetonuphthalide, which resembles some well-knownantipyretics of t h e benzene groiip in constitution, likewise gave riseto no noteworthy symptoms. This behaviour is attributed by theauthor to the physioiogical inactivity of the naphthalene nucleus.The phenrtuthrene nucleus appears to be similarly inactive, a sub-cutaneous injection of 0.04 gram only feebly affecting a frog. Inconclusion, the aiithor ascribes the antipyretic properties of benzenecompounds to the presence of the benzene nucleus, and regards theabsence of tbese properties from naphthalene compouuds as indicativeof the absence of a preformed benzene nucleus from these substancesand hence as con6rmatory of Barn berger’s centric formuh.S. B. A. A