PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 37 Physiological Chemistry. Reaction of the Blood in Rarefied Air as Determined by Titration and by t h e Electrometric Method. ALBERTO AGGAZZOTTI (Atti R. Accccd. Lincei 1906 [v] 15 ii 474-483).- The author has measured (1) the concentration of the hydrogen ions and (2) the acidity towards sodium hydroxide of the blood of small dogs after these have been subjected to a moderately rapid diminution of pressure under the bell jar of an air-pump. It is found that the alkalinity of the blood undergoes diminution under these conditions but not to SO great an extent as when the dimiuution in pressure is attained by ascent of a mountain in which case the action is of longer duration (cornpare Galeotti ibid. 1903 [v] 12 ii 646). M. PIETTRIC and ANTONY VILA (Compt.rend. 1906 143 737-790. Compare Abstr. 1905 i 399 500; 1906 ii 373).-The stroma obtained from the red corpuscles by hzmolysis and extraction with ether forms a soft viscous substance greyish-red or yellowish-white in colour soluble in water and readily fermented. The amount obtained from a litre of defibrinated blood varies with the nature of the blood; the blood of the horse yields 2.65-2.54 ; the pig 2.90 ; the dog 3.65 ; the guinea- pig 3.74 and the pigeon 21.55. The percentage numbers obtained by analysing the dried product were C 53-32 ; 33 7.47 ; N 11.70 in the strorrrs from horse’s blood and C 54-22 ; H 8.30 ; N 13.21 in the stroma from dog’s blood. The amount of anh in stroma isolated as above is much higher than that obtained by previous workers (compare Pascucci Abstr.1905 ii 729) the percentage amount being as follows horse 2.32-3-0 ; dog 2.9 ; duck S.25 ; pigeon 8-96. The ash contains manganese is free from chlorine and contains 0*31-0*33 ; 2.6 or 2.3 per cent. of phosphorus according as it is derived from the blood of horse fowl or duck respectively. T. H. P. The Stroma of t h e Red Corpuscles. M. A. W. Action of Photodynamic Substances on Golourless Cor- puscles. HUGO SALVENDI (Chem. Centr. 1906 ii 1511 ; from Arch. klin. Med. 87 356-364).-In diffuse daylight eosin shows a harmful action on frog’s leucocytes in six hours in sunlight in two to three hours. The action on lymphocytes is more rapid. Other substances fluorescein Bengal red &c. act in the same way but not so rapidly. The action of these material on Pccrama?cizcm is similar.W. D. H Photodynamic Action in Alkaline Neutral and Acid Media. R. DAX (Chem. Centy. 1906 ii 1511-1512; from Avch. k&. Med. 87 365-372).-1f the photodynamic action of eosin and similar substances is due to the amount of acid liberated the action should be greater in an alkaline than in a neutral or acid medium. But the action on Paramcecium is not greater in an alkaline than in a38 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. neutral or acid medium. at which they destroy invertase. The reaction also does not influence the rate W. D. H. The Chemical Nature of Fertilisation. JACQUES LOEB (Bioclhem Zeit. 1906 1 183 -206).-A somewhat condensed account of the author’s work and theories ; artificial parthenogenesis is regarded as an acceleration of oxidation processes directed into certain channels.The influence of agents and reagents on these is discussed. W. D. H. The Physiologico-pathological Meaning of Hyperacidity of the Gastric Juice. A-DOLF BICKEL (Biochem. Zed. 1906 1 153-160).-A discussion from the medical point of view of hyper- chlorhydria. The symptom is probably an indication of a complex condition in which nerves are concerned and opinions regarding its meaning require revision. W. D. H. Action of Trypsin. I1 and 111. KARL MAYS (Zeit. physiol. Chem. 1906 49 124-187 ; 188-301).-Pancrentic juice has an ereptic action. This may be due to the continued action of trypsin or to the presence of a second enzyme (pancreatic erepsin). Vernon’s positive statement that the second enzyme exists is criticised but with the present methods for the separation of ferments the question must still be an open one.Bayliss and Starling state that the fresh pancreatic juice of the dog contains no trypsin until i t is activated by the succus entericus. They attribute the feeble proteoclastic power of the fresh juice to the action of pancreatic erepsin. The view taken by the present author is that it is due to the presence of a small amount of trypsin for ereptic action in Cohnheim’s sense is absent. Extracts of pancreas have only a feeble ereptic action. Mr. D. H. Digestion and Rennet-action. MARTIN JACOBY (Biochem. &it. 1906 1 53-74).-This research arose out of Pawloff’s theory that peptic and rennetic actions are both due to one enzyme. Although i t is admitted that preparations can be obtained which in certain con- centrations exhibit one action only Pawloff’s view is favoured on the whole on account of the resemblances in the action of certain factors which influence the two activities.No specificity was found in the be haviour of an ti-su bs tances. ‘317. D. H. Metabolism Experiments in a Woman with a Permanent Biliary Fistula. PHILIP SHAFFER (Amer. J. Physiol. 1906 17 362-391).-The patient’s metabolism was normal except for poor absorption of fats high excretion of indican (due to increase of intestinal putrefaction) a lorn excretion of creatinine (to be discussed in a future paper) and a high excretion of ammonia the cause of which is not under- B ood. The taurine of the bile is not to any extent the source of the neutral sulphur of the urine. The latter was not lower t,han normal an8 was not increased when bile was given by the mouth or through the fistula.In jaundice it is suggerjted that the increase in neutralPHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 39 sulphur may be derived from taurine absorbed from the bile passages into the circulating blood and thus diverted from the normal bile cir- culation. Absorption of fat was not increased by bile medication or bile injection ; absorption of proteids was good. No relation between the composition of the bile and t,he amount of proteid in the food was found. Excretion of bile is increased by bile medication or bile injection ; the bile given is probably not a hepatic stimulant but merely furnishes the liver with ready-made bile constituents which it excretes by the usual channel.W. D. H. Nutritive Value of Glycerol. BERNHARD KNAPP (Chem Cent?. 1906 ii 1510; from Arch. kZin. Med. 87 34O).-Glycerol has “proteid-sparing” action and is thus of nutritive value. A t the commencement of the glycerol periods sugar appears in the urine and a portion of the glycerol given leaves the body as such. W. D. H. The Behaviour of Moss Carbohydrates in the Human Body and their use in Diabetes Mellitue. E. POULSSON (Chem. Cent?. 1906 ii 1511 ; from Hammarsten’s Feutschyijt xiv).-The carbo- hydrates of two mosses Cetraria islcmdiccl and C. nivnlis were investi- gated. I n the former plant about half of the water-soluble carbo- hydrate consists of lichenin which on acid hydrolysis yields amorphous products and dextrose.The insoluble carbohydrates are hemicelluloses of which dextran mannan and galactan were identified ; about 3”/* of pentosans and a small amounb of true cellulose are present. Given in bread about half the carbohydrates present are absorbed and burnt in the body. C. nivnZis.has a similar composition except that lichenin is less and hemicelluloses more abundant. A bread prepared from it muses disturbances of health due to the presence of usnic acid. W.D. H. Proteid Synthesis in Animals. VALDEMAR HENRTQUES and C. HANSEN (Zeit. Physiol. Chem. 1906,49,113-123. Compare Abstr. 1905 ii 1 SO).-The experiments were made on white rats to determine whether the hydrolytic products of casein obtained by the action of acids act as “proteid-sparers ’’ and whether protarnines given in addition assist in lessening the loss of nitrogen.The answer to both questions is in tbe affirmative ; the loss of nitrogen in the body was diminished especially when protamines were given also as compared with periods during which the animals received no nitrogenous food. W. D. H. Behaviour of Ovo-mucoid in the Organism. K. WILLANEN (Biochem. Zeit. 1906 1 108-128).-This gluco-proteid occurs in con- siderable amount preformed in eggs (1Oolo in hen’s egg-white) ; it is not altered by boiling. If given by the stomach to men and animals it is destroyed and behaves like other proteids. If injected intra- venously from 14 to 28O/ of it reappears in the urine. This does not occur if it is injected subcutaneously. I n gastric digestion and during putrefaction its carbohydrate group (glucosamine) is split off. This does not occur during tryptic digestion or in autolysis produced by40 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS.splenic tissue. broken up. I n the later stages of putrefaction the glucosamine is Ovo-mucoid gives a feeble Adamkiewicz reaction. W. D. H. Effect of Alcohol on Secretion of Bile. WILLIAM SALANT (Amer. ,? Phyeiol. 1906 17 408-428).-Physiological doses of alcohol how- ever introduced into the body exert little or no direct secretory action on the digestive glands. This conclusion was confirmed by the present experiments which were conducted on dogs the alcohol being given intravenously. An increased flow of bile sometimes noticed may as in the case of other digestive glands be nervous in origin or due to the formation of secretin which stimulates the liver as well as the pancreas.W. D. H. Maintenance of Cerebral Activity in Mammals by Arti- flcial Circulation. CHARLES C. GUTI’IRIE F. H. PIKE and GEORGE N. STEWART (Amer. J. Physiol. 1906 17 344-349).-Saline solutions are quite inadequate to sustain the reflex or voluntary functions of the brain in a freshly decapitated auimal. Defibrinated blood is effective for eight or nine minutes only ; oxygenated active blood from the cir- culation of another animal of the same species prolongs the period to nineteen minutes. W. D. H. Influence of Temperature on Rate of Heart in the Light of the Law for Chemical Reaction Velocity. CHARLES D. SNYDER (Amer. J. Physiol. 1906,17 350-361).-Experiments on the hearts of various animals invertebrate and vertebrate (including mammalian) show that the velocity is the same as that for known chemical reactions as influenced by temperature.This is expressed by the formula (Arrhenius) logk = - A/T+ constant in which A is a constant and k is the heart rate at any temperature T which falls within certain limits. W. D. H. The Action of Carbon Dioxide and Alcohol on Muscle. FR. W. FR~HLICH ,,(Chem. Centr. 1906 ii 1443-1444; from Verh. Ges. Dezct. Nutui$ Brzlc 1905 ii 405-406).-Before paralysis sets in as an action of the two agents investigated the contractions of muscle and the action currents of nerve increase. This is not regarded as clue to an increase in vital processes but as an accompaniment of the destruc- tion of life especially oh the anabolic side.W. D. H. The Influence of Muscular Work on the Weight and Composition of the Organs. FELIX ROUOZINSKI (Biochem. Zeit. 1906 1 207-228).-1n dogs muscular work causes no change in the physical or chemical characters of the blood. The muscle substance becomes poorer in water which will account for the loss of weight. W. D. H. The Contents of a Chylous Cy&. OTTO Sc~uam (Zed. physiol. Chem. 1906 49 266).-The cyst mas situated in the mesentery and its contents measured about 1500 C.C. It contained total solids,PHYSlOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 41 39.76 ; fat {ether extract) 35.76 ; fatty acids (from soaps) 0.43 ; proteids 1.97 ; ash O-9’/o. On microscopic examination it was found to contain fat globules and crystals of a mixture of calcium palmitate and stearate. The proteids were globulin albumin and a small amount of proteoses.The ash was specially rich in calcium and sodium chloride ; i t also contained phosphoric acid and potassium. Leucine tyrosine and sugar were absent. The fluid contained a peroxydase and probably a fat-decomposing ferment but no proteo- elastic enzyme. The fat present had the same characters as in human adipose tissue. W. D. H. A Heptose in Human Urine. F. ROSENBERGER (Zeit. physiol. Chem. 1906 49 202-209).-1n a case of diabetes in addition to the ordinary fermentable sugar a second lzevorotatory carbohydrate was found which was identified as a heptose. Crystals of Z-mannoheptos- azone (m. p. 203’) were prepared from it. W. D. H. Methylguanidine in Normal Human Urine. W.ACHELIS (Chem. Centr. 1906 ii 1445 ; from Cerbtr. Physiol. 20 455).-The statement of Kutscher and Lohmann on this subject is confirmed. Thirty litres of urine yielded about 0.7 gram of the picrolonate. W. D. H. Ehrlich’s Diazo-reaction and RUSSO’S Methylene-blue Reaction in Urine. REINHOLD DUNGER (Chom. Centr. 1906 ii 1518 ; from Deut. med. Woch. 32 1582-1583).-Russo’s reaction (Riforma rned. 1905 507) consists in shaking 4 or 5 C.C. of urine with four drops of a lolo solution of methylene-blue. A positive reaction is the appearance of an emerald-green colour ; a bluish-green or blue colour is negative. Positive results were obtained by him in typhoid measles small-pox and other diseases. I n the present research 1100 urines were examined b u t the reaction is of no value.It is given by many urines which do not give Ehrlich’s diazo-reaction and vice versa. It is not a chemical reaction a t all but is simply due to a mixture of colours and if the urine contains more than 0*6’/0 of urochrome the result is the green which Russo describes as his positive reaction. W. D. H. Acetonuria in Dogs. A. BAUUQARTEN and H. POPPER (Chem. Centr. 1906 ii 1452; from Centr. Physiol 20 377-381).-1n extra-uterine pregnancy hzemorrhage into the peritoneum leads to intense and lasting acetonuria which disappears when the blood is removed. I n the present research isovaleric and butyric acids after neutrslisation by ammonia were injected (1) into the peritoneal cavity of dogs or (2) under the skin in amounts of 1 to 2 grams per kilo. of body weight.I n the first case ncetonuria ensued ; in the second it did not. W. D. H. Phloridzin Diabetes. KARL GLAESSNER (and ERKST P. PICK) (Chem. Centc. 1906 ii 1451 ; from Yerh. Ges. Deut. Natuq$ Arzte 1905 ii 41 1-41 2)-The influence of various amino-acids on the ex-42 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. cretion of sugar in diabetes caused by phloridzin in rabbits was inves- tigated. In well-fed animals alanine and glutamic acid produced the strongest effect leucine and glycine less and asparagine none at all. Acetamide sodium lactate caffeine and chloral hydrate also gave negative results. If the animals were fasting no amino-acid gave a positive result. If however the liver of phloridzinised rabbits was administered subcutaneously glycosuria ensued. If the rabbits’ kidneys were removed phloridzin given and the animals killed twenty-four hours later their blood or liver substance given sub- cutaneously to dogs produced no glycosuria.Phloridzin appears to be destroyed in the blood or rendered inactive. The Cause of Death in Acute Diseases of the Pancreas. N. GULEKE (Chem. Centr. 1906 ii 1451 ; from Verh. Ges. Beut. Natur- Arrxte 1905 ii 116-1 19).-‘l‘he pancreatic secretion causes in many cases fatal poisoning and in destruction of the pancreatic tissue passes into the blood or lymph stream by which means it is distributed to the tissues which it destroys. W. D. H. The poisonous substance is trypsin. W. D. H. Action of Magnesium Salts. IV. SAMUEL J. MELTZER and JOHN AUER (Amer. J. Plqsiol. 1906 1’7 313-320 ; compare Abstr.1906 ii 473). -Subcutaneous and intravenous injections of magnesium salts produce neither purgation nor intestinal peristalsis. Peristalsis produced in other ways can be completely inhibited by an intravenous injection of magnesium sulphate or chloride in doses insufficient to embarrass the respiration. Intravenous injection of these salts also inhibits the muscular tremor produced by intravenous injection of physostigmine. W. I). H. Behaviour of Nutrose given Subcutaneously and ita Relation to the Excretion of Rynurenic Acid and Allantoin. A. BAUMGARTEN and ERNST P. PICE (Chern. Centr. 1906 ii 1449 ; from Verh. Ges. Deut. Natug. Ayxte 1905 ii 413-414).-In dogs the hypodermic administration of 7- 8 grams of nutrose increased the excretion of kynurenic acid whereas the excretion after adminis- tration by the mouth is very small.The proteid given is considered to be the source of the acid. No definite conclusion is drawn regard- ing allsntoin. I n rabbits Ellioger’s statement is confirmed that hypodermic injection of tryptophan leads to the occurrence of kyn- urenic acid in their urine but the similar injection of nutrose OT proteoses led to a negative result. W. D. H. The Action of Morphine. I. KUDOLF MAGNUS (P’iiyer’s Archiw 1906 115 316-330).-1n cats a prolonged milk diet causes chronic diarrhea which is stopped by the subcutaneous injection of 4 or 5 centigrams of morphine hydrochloride. Morphine has the same action after the whole of the sympathetic nerve supply from stomach to anus has been cut through and undergone degeneration.The pre- sence of inhibitory nerve fibres is therefore not necessary for morphine action in this direction. After small doses of morphine the peris-VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRlCULTURE. 43 taltic sodium chloride reflexes of the small intestine cannot be observed with cert,ainty. W. D. H. The Liver in Phosphorus Poisoning. JULIUS WOHL~EMUTH (Biochem. Zeit. 1906 1 161-165).-The main outcome of the examination of the livers in cases of phosphorus poisoning in rabbits is that the nuclear material is much less and much more slowly broken down than the cell-protoplasm. W. D. H. Toxity of some Rare Earths. Their Action on Certain Ferments. ALEXANDRE HEBERT (Compt. Fend. 1906 143 690-693). -The sulphates of thorium cerium lanthanum and zirconium have no toxic action on guinea-pigs or frogs when injected subcutaneously in quantities of 160 lug. per kilo. of body weight. Fishes (minnows) die in solutions of the sulphates containing 0.5 gram per litre the zirconium and thorium salts are the most poisonous then follow those of cerium and lanthanum. Geriiiinating seeds of the pea wheat or rape are killed when transplanted t o a solution containing 5 grams of the rare earth sulphates per litre whilst experiments conducted on Aspergillus niger beer yeast diastase and emulsin show that thorium and zirconium sulphates are poisonom towards the lower organisms and ferments solutions containing 0.5 or 1 gram of salt per litre being in this respect comparable with solutions of mercuric chloride. Cerium and lanthanum sulphates have no toxic action on the cultures even in such quantities as 5 or 10 grams per litre. M. A. W.