PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. Physiological Chemistry. 27 Effect of Gestation on the Amount of Mineral Matter, especially Phosphoric Acid and Calcium, in Cow’s Milk. By A. KORT (Bied. Centr., 1900, 29, 667-668 ; from Ing. Agr. Gemblom, 1899, 453--475).-The percentage amounts of mineral matter, and especially of phosphoric acid and calcium, diminish more or less regu-28 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. lady as the time of calving approaches, notwithstanding the decrease in lactation. During the period of the greatest flow of milk, the percentage amounts of phosphoric acid and calcium are lowest, whilst the total amounts are greatest. The amounts of mineral constituents gradually became normal as the production of milk diminishes, but again de- crease towards the middle of the period of gestation.Normal feeding has practically no effect on the amount of mineral matter in milk. I n the case of herbivorous animals, gestation has no effect on the amounts of phosphoric acid and calcium in the urine; feeding has the predominating effect. As regards carnivoroua animals, however, the amount of phosphoric acid in the urine decreases during gestation. Division of Unfertilised Eggs. By ALBERT P. MATHEWEI (Amr. J. Physiol., 1900, 4, 343-347).--The experiments mere made on the eggs of Arhacia, and show that lack of oxygen, heat (32-33'), and exposure t o ether, chloroform, or alcohol for a short time are all followed by karyokinetic nuclear division. The essential basis in all casesappears to be the production of localised areas of liquefaction in the protoplasm, and it is suggested that the centrosome normally plays the part of a liquefying enzyme.Influence of Digestion on Animal Heat. By EDWARD T. REICHERT (Arne?*. J. Physiol., 1900, 4, 397-404).-Experiments on dogs show that the rise of temperature during digestion is due to increase of heat production. The maximum rise is during the fourth hour after a meal or later, but the changes in heat production (deter- mined calorimetrically) and temperature are not proportional, for the greatest increase in heat production occurs during the first hour after feeding. The most marked effects are observed when the diet consists of proteid and fat, next with proteid, and least with fat. Colostrum is rich in ash constituents. N. H. J. M. W. D. H. W. D. H. Gmeous Metabolism of the Submaxillary Gland.11. Ab- sorption of Water. By JOSEPH BARCROFT (J. Physiol., 1900, 25, 479--486).-The ' chorda blood ' contains less water than the arterial blood. After the first minute of stimulation, the water lost from the blood exceeds in volume the saliva secreted, and may be measured by multiplying the volume of saliva by a factor the mean value of which is 1.12. In the first half minute of secretion, there is a large flow of saliva, followed in the second half minute by a relatively small flow. I n the first half minute theabsorption of water from the blood is large ; this is diminished in the second half minute. Metabolism in Forced Feeding. By W. HALE WHITE and E. I. SPRIGGS (Proc. Physiol. Xoc., 1900, xxvii-xxviii).-Okser- vations were carefully made on a woman for 56 days.If all the gain of weight had been proteid, the nitrogen corresponding to it would have been 441.8 grams. But as the nitrogen not accounted for in urine and faxes was 661.04 grams, 219 grams of nitrogen have to be accounted for in some other, at present unexplained, way. W. D. H. W. D. H.PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 29 Metabolism in the Dog before and after removal of the Spleen. By DIASMID NOEL PATON (J. Physiol., 1900, 25,443-461). -After removal of tb spleen there is a more rapid excretion of water after a meal, which probably indicates more rapid absorption. Otherwise there is no essential difference in the course or nature of the metabolism either during fasting or after feeding with the ordin- ary proteids of flesh, with vegetable food such as oatmeal, or with food rich in nucleins, such as thymus gland.By EDUARD PFLUGER (Pfliiger’s Archiv, 1900, 82, 303-380).-Largely polemical. The main conclusion is that fat, like proteid and carbohydrate, undergoes hydrolytic decomposition before absorption, and is never absorbed as emulsified neutral fat. W. D. H. Absorption of Fat. W. D. H. Nutrition in Summer and Winter in Moderate Climates. By KARL ERKST RANICE (Zeit. Biol., 1900, 40, 288-323).-Experi- ments on man show that within ordinary ranges of temperature there is no correspondence between a warm temperature and a necessarily more limited supply of food. In summer temperatures of over ZOO, the instinctive lessening of appetite is related to pathological con- ditions induced by the excessive heat.Properties and Origin of Lymph. By LEON ASHER and FREDERIC W. BUSCH (Zeit. Biol., 1900,40, 333-373. Compare Abstr,, 1899, ii, 165).-The formation of urea from ammonium salts in the liver is accompanied by increased lymph formation : the lymph produced is more concentrated owing to increase of proteid. The formation of glycogen produced by injection of sugar into the portal system is ac- companied by increase in lymph formation, but the concentration of the lymph remains constant. The intravenous injection of an assimil- able proteid, such as casein, produces also a more abundant lymph which is richer in proteid. Heidenhain’s lymphagogues of the first class cause increased liver activity and so lead to increased lymph formation ; after intense activity of the liver, the coagulability of the lymph from the thoracic duct lessens.Activity of the pancreas similarly causes increase in lymph formation. These facts are all considered to support the view that lymph formation resembles the physiological process of secretion. Formation of Glycogen after Feeding on Galactose. By ERNST WEINLAND (Zeit. Biol., 1900, 40, 374-385).-1n the rabbit, the administration of galactose leads to the formation of glycogen in the liver. W. D. H. Urea Formation in the Body. I. Introduction. By WLADIMIR VON GULEWITSCH (Zed. physiol. Chm., 1900, 30, 523-532). 11. The Occurrence of Arginine in the Spleen. By WLAUIMIR VON GULEWITSCH and A. JOCHELSOHN (dbid., 533-538).-A discussion on the relative importance of the processes of hydrolytic decomposition of nitrogenous matter in the body, and of oxidation in intra vitam urea formation introduces a series of papers.However important oxidation may be, there can be little doubt that hydrolysis occurs also in nitro W. D. H. W. D. H.30 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. genous katabolism. Drechsel’s well known work on the formation of urea from arginine in vitro renders it extremely probable that part, at any rat?, of the urea formed in the body may pass through the arginine stage. Hitherto, although arginine has been found in plants, its existence has never been shown in the animal body, and the first step in the series of investigations shows it to be present in the spleen of the ox, Future papers will deal with its fate in the body.W. D, H. Lactase of the Pancreas. By ERNST WEINLAND (Zeit. Biol., 1900, 40, 386-391).-The administration of milk increases the pro- duction of pancreatic lactase. Feeding on milk-sugar alone does the same thing. This is not due to the milk-sugar or any of its decom- position products passing into the pancreas; but the sugar acts as a stimulus, possibly to the secretory nerves of the organ. W. D. H. [Lecithin in Brain and Milk.] By ROB. BUROW (Zeit. physiol. Chem., 1900, 30, 495--507).-The lecithin was extracted by means of an ether-alcohol mixture, and estimated from the amount of phos- phorus in the extract. I n different animals, it was found that the amount of lecithin in the milk varies, its proportion becoming greater as the relative brain weight of the animal increases.The following table gives the principal results : Calf. Dog. Man. Relative brain weight .. . . .. ..*.. ... 1 : 370 1 : 30 1 : 7 } 1-40 2.11 3.05 Lecithin of milk in percentage of . . . . . . . . . . , . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pro t eid W. D. H. Relationship of Iron in the Urine and in the Blood. By ADOLF JOLLES and FERDINAND WINKLER (Chem. Centr. 1900, ii, 687-688 ; from Arch. exp. Path. Pharrn., 44, 464-476).-The daily excretion of iron in the urine averages 8 milligrams. The iron coefficient, that is, the proportion between the iron in the blood and urine, is 104.6 in health, but sinks in disease, and in anaemia gravis is only 7.2; here the excretion of iron is increased six-fold. I n chlorosis, the excretion is normal, but the iron-coefficient falls.W. D. H. Diuretic Effects of Sodium Chloride. By WILLIAM H. THOMPSON (J. Physiol., 1900, 25, 487-51 8).-The intravenous injection of small amounts of an isotonic solution of sodium chloride is followed usually by diuresis which is out of proportion to the volume of fluid injected, This is completed three or four hours after the injection.. The excre- tion of urea and nitrogen is augmented, but the maximum occurs earlier than the maximum excretion of water. The diuresis is not caused by elevation of blood-pressure. A hydramic condition of the blood is produced, but this is not the sole factor in producing the increased flow of urine. A diminution in the urinary clrlorides is probably produced by the anssthetic. The kidney volume corresponds i n a general way to urinary outflow ; but there are eXCeptiObS to thisVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGIRICULTURE.31 rule. Bowman's theory explains urinary secretion better than Ludwig's. This is to be explained by the amount of lymph present. W. D. H. By NARZISS ACE (Chem. Centr., 1900, ii, 688; from Arch. exp. Path. Plzarm., 44, 31 9-348).-Dimethylxanthine acts on rabbits very markedly as a diuretic, and theophylline and paraxanthine are much more effective than theobromine. Of the monomethylxanthines, 4-methylxanthine acts as a diuretic, whilst heteroxanthine hardly acts in this way at all. Xanthine, isocaff eine, deoxycaff eine, and deoxytheobromine- are not diuretics. The presence of methyl groups in the 4 : 6 and 1 : 6 positions appears to, be of greater importance for diuretic action than in the 1 : 4 position.Action of Phloridzin on the Kidneys. By JULIUS YON K~SSA (Zeit. Biol., 1900, 40, 324-332).-1n spite of what some observers have stated to the contrary, phloridzin does produce a nephritic condition. It also produces fatty infiltration of the liver and muscles. The nearly related pentoside, hesperidin, produces nephritis and albuminuria but not glycosuria. Physiological Action of certain Isomeric Hydroxyquinolines. By BELA VON FENYVESSY (Zeit. physiol. Chem., 1900, 30, 552-564),- The two hydroxyquinolines, carbostyril and kynurin, were investigated in rabbits and frogs. Administered by the mouth, the former causes paralysis by a curare-like action on the nerve-endings. The urine con- tains sugar, and after the removal of this by fermentation, is strongly laevorotatory ; the substance to which this was due was crystallised out, and analysis of its potassium salt showed it to be carbostyril- glycuronic acid. A part (about 25 per cent.) of the drug leaves the body as an ethereal sulphate. Two experiments were made in which the drug was given subcutaneously. One rabbit died; the urine of the other did not contain the optically active material. Kynurin given by the mouth has no ill-effects on rabbits, but in- jected under the skin of frogs it produces much the same paralytic effects and heart-weakening as carbostyril, although less marked in degree. The urine of the rabbits in this case also contains a Iaevo- rotatory material, which yields kynurin on decomposition. Elementary analvsis of the crvstalline material obtained from the urine shows Diuretic Action of certain Purine Derivatives. W. D. H, W. D. H. that"it is not a co&pound of glycuronic acid as anticipated. W. D. H.