PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 49 Physiological Chemistry. Tension of Carbon Dioxide in A1veola;r Air during Exercise. BERTRAM J. COLLINGWOOD and H. L. F. BUSWELL (Proc. Physiol. Xoc. 1907 xxi-xxii ; J. Physiol. 36)-The method adopted for collecting alveolar air was rather different from that used by .Haldane and Prieatley but the results which show much greater variations than those given by the first-quoted authors are stated to confirm their statement that the hyperpnea of muscular work is due t o a rise of carbon dioxide pressure in the respiratory centre. Tension of Carbon Dioxide in Alveolar Air during Chloro- form Narcosis. BERTRAM J. COLLINGWOOD and H. L. F. BUSWELL (Proc. Physiol. Xoc. 1907 xxiv-xxv ; J. Physiol. 36).-As anmthesia advances there is a well-defined rise of carbon dioxide tension in the alveolar air.Increased tension of the gas in the venous blood also occurs which is due either to the slowing of the blood-stream or to deficient lung ventilation. Hypotherrnolysin. W. D. H. The experiments were made on cats. W. D. H. G. OLIVI (Zeitsch. physiol. Chenz. 1907 539 484-495).-Low temperatures (lo to 2') alter the red corpuscles so that their receptors are no longer able to unite with ordinary hzemo- lysin but at the same time there is developed a specific anti-substance for the cooled corpuscles which is called hypothernzo2ysin. The change produced by cooling is not total a :certain number of receptors remaining unchanged and capable of uniting with normal hzmolysin. The bearing of this observation on the hzmolysis of paroxysmal The Chemical Hamolysins.111. ALBERT J. J. VANDEVELDE (Bull. Xoc. chim. Belg. 1907 21 373-380. Compare Abstr. 1907 ii 792).-The paper is partly polemical against I Fuhner (Abstr. 1907 ii 631) and deals with the hzemolyticaction of ethyl alcohol digitalin strophantin saponin difluoroethyl alcohol the three isomerides iso- propyl formate methyl propionate and ethyl acetate the three com- pounds isobutyl acetate ethyl isobutyrate and isopropyl propionate the toluic acids and the nitro- hydroxy- and amino-benzoic acids towards defibrinated ox-blood. The value 15.4888% by weight (Abstr. 1907 ii 632) for the limiting hzemolytic value of ethyl hamoglobinuria and rheumatism is discussed. w. D. IT. VOL. XCIV. ii. 450 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. alcohol is confirmed The critical coefficient (the ratio of isotoxic quan- tities of the substance and of ethyl alcohol multiplied by 100) of digitalin (Nerck) and of digitoxin (Mcrck) in alcoholic solution is 0,0036 in aqueous solution 0.40.Comparison of these two figures gives further evidence that :substances have a greater toxicity in alcoholic solution than when aloDe. The critical coefficient of strophantin or oudbain and of saponin in alcoholic solution is 0.13. Difluoroethyl alcohol has a critical coefficient 9292 showing that substitution of fluorine only slightly alters the toxic properties of ethyl alcobol (of which the critical coefficient is obviously 100). Com- parison of the critical coefficients of isopropyl formate (5 %7) methyl propionate (5.67) and ethyl acetate (11,31) and also of isobutyl acetate (4*34) ethyl isobutyrate (4.85) and isopropyl propionate (5*19) shows that the more symmetrical isomeride has the higher value. The values obtained for the critical coefficients of the sub- stituted benzoic acids have already been described (Abstr.1907 ii 890). E. H. Nature of the Alkalinity of Intestinal Juice. EGIDIO POLLACCX (Boll. Chim. Farm. 1907 46 18'J-791).-The alkalinity of intestinal juice is a t least partially due to the presenceof ammonia or an ammonium compound. The total volatile alkali evolved on heating 1000 grams of the fresh intestines of the bog amounts to 0.0268 gram of ammonia or 0*1513 gram of ammonium carbonate or 0.531 gram of ammonium oleate. T. H. P. Animal Digestion. E. S. LONDON and W.W. POLOWZO~VA (Zeitsclr. physiol. Cltena. 1907 53 429-452).-From experiments on dogs with fistuls the following conclusions are drawn ; about 50% of the digested products are absorbed in the jejunum and from 40-60% of the nitrogen. The concentration of protein cleavage products in the fluid to be absorbed is about 0.4%. By gastric digestion alone the protein material passes into the intestine in an absorbable state. Qlycine is absorbed in the same measure as the higher products of protein cleavage. The addition of the duodenal juices t o the products of gastric digestion does not increase the rate of absorption. About 30% of the duodenal juices is absorbed in the jejunum. Aqueous solutions of monobutyrin and sodium oleate pass through the intestine more slowly than fluids which contain protein cleavage products.Sodium oleate is absorbed more slowly than monobutyrin and protein cleavage products ; it causes increased secretion of intestinal juice. Solutions of sugar and dextrin are rapidly and completely absorbed in the jejunum. Dextrin solutions cause little or no secretion of bile but an abundant secretion of pancreatic juice A.11 these statements are supported by figures and details are added on rate of digestion in 3itr.o with mixtures of juices. Behaviour of Glucosamine and of the First Product of its Transformation in the Animal Body KARL STOLTE (Beitr. chem. Plqsiob. Path. 1907 11 19-34).-Free glucosamine (chitosnmine) dissolved in wator or in methyl alcohol is gradualiy changed as was W. D. H.PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY.51. shown by Lobry de Bruyn (Abstr. 1899 i 732) into a substance which can also (and more readily) be obtained by the action of alcoholic ammonia on lawulose. The molecular weight of the acetyl derivative of this substance has now been determined and shows that Lobry de Bruyn’s formula must be doubled so that it becomes Ci2H2008N2. The acetyl derivative C,,H,,O,,N contains eight acetyl groups and not four as supposed by Lobry de Bruyn. When oxidised with hydrogen peroxide the substance is now found to yield pyrazine-2 5-dicarboxylic acid previously described by Stohr (Abstr 1892 507 ; 1893 i 487). The transformation product of glucosamine and of hvulose for which the name fructosazine is suggested is therefore 2 5-clitetra~?/drox?/buty~yraxine c,H,o,-c<~H~$~* c,H,o and its formation from glucosamine mould appear to take place according to the equation ZC,H,,O,N + 0 = C,,H,,O,N + 3H20.By means of intravenous injection into rabbits the maximum dose of glucosamine mas now determined which could be broken down by the organism without any of the substance passing into the urine. This dose was very small 1/25 of the corresponding quantity OF dextrose and of laevulose. A transformation into fructosazine in the organism could not be observed with certainty. Moderate doses of fructosazine up to one gram when given pel. os were completely oxidised. G. I;. Value of Ultimate Protein Cleavage Products in the Organ- ism; Experiments on a Dog with Eck’s Fistula. E ~ L ABDERHALUEN and E S. LONDON (Zeitsch. physiol. Chem.1907 54 80-85. Compare Abstr. 1907 ii 369 892).-A dog with an Eck’s fistula (a connexion between the portal vein and vena cava inferior cutting out the liver from the portal circulation) not only remained in nitrogenous equilibrium but retained nitrogen when fed on the ultimate cleavage products of protein (rnekt) €or eight days. This result does not give support to the view that the liver plays an essential part in protein synthesis but rather that this synthesis takes place in the intestinal wall. Comparative Study of Phenols as Agents in Partheno- genesis. YVES DELAGE and P. DE BEAUCHAXP (Con@. rend. 1907 145 735-738).-Loeb’s hypothesis that parthenogenesis is due to certain agents increasing the velocity of oxygen-transport is not supported by the present experiments j for substances such as catechol quinol and pyrogallol which have this property in a high degree are the least active in promoting parthenogenesis whilst resorcinol and phloroglucinol are very active although they possess little or no power of transporting oxygen How these materials act and how sugar acts as a favouring factor in their action are subjects which are discussed but not decided.W. D. I€. Physical and Chemical Properties of Nerves. I. NATHANIEL H. ALCOCK and a. ROCHE IJYNCII (2 Pl’Lysiol. 1907 36 93-103).- The average percentage of water in mectullatecl nerves varies in differ- G. B. 4-252 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. ent species of animal; €or instance cat 67.3; dog 75.4 and horse 69.3. The percentage in the non-medullated nerves of the horse is 81.2.There are also variations in the same species and in different nerves of the same animal Cats’ nerves remain unchanged in weight in 1 *16% sodium chloride solutions ; in 1.1 7% solutions they lose weight and in 1.46% solutions of potassium chloride they gain weight. The average percentage of chlorine in medullated and non-medullated nerves of the horse is the same (0.23). The medullary sheath contains less water than the axis cylinder but a not dissimilar amount of chlorine W. D. H. Sulphur Compounds of the Nervous System. WALDEMAR KOCH (ZeitscTt,. pTt,ysioZ. Chem. 1907 53 496-507).-The sulphur compounds of nervous tissue are divided into four groups (1) that of lipoids for example protagon; (2) that of extractives soluble in 95% alcohol; (3) that of extractives insoluble in boiling alcohol and ether but soluble in cold water ; (4) that of proteins.The view is advanced that in so-called protagon a sulphur compound acts as a link between lecithin and cerebrin. The sulphur compound under heading (2) consists as to one-tenth of its amount of inorganic sulphates and the remainder of a taurine-like compound. Those under heading (3) con- sist mainly of inorganic sulphates but the presence of protein-like sulphur compounds (gelatin ?) is suggested. The pzotein sulphur (heading 4) is contained in neuro-keratin and nucleo-protein. The amount in albumin and globulin was not estimated. Estimation of these substances in grey and white matter shows that grey matter con- tains nucleo-protein globulin and neutral sulphur and white matter contains the higher proportion of neuro-keratin and lipoid-sulphur. The importance of the sulphur compounds for the oxidation processes in the brain is discussed; the brain has to be provided with excess of oxygen in order to perform its work.I n Dementiaprcecox there is a marked lessening of the neutral sulphur (35% on the average; three cases) and a rise of inorganic sulphates; the lipoid-sulphur is not altered. Interference with oxidation processes will explain some of the symptoms of this disease Glycogen in Frogs during Inanition. EDUARD PFLUGER (Pfliiger’s Archiw 1907 120 253-289).-The author’s previous work has shown that during inanition in dogs glycogen does not entirely disappear from the body ; in one animal for instance after a fast of twenty-eight days the liver and muscles still contained fifty-two grams of glycogen.The present experiments on frogs confirm this. They were kept for months from August onwards in water renewed daily no food was given; flies and other insects being kept out of the trough by a fine net. A t intervals ten frogs were taken and analysed by methods which are described in full. There is no accumulation of glycogen before the winter sets in ; artificial warmth like the summer causes the glycogen to diminish and a slight diminution was noticed in the first month. After this the glycogen steadily increased from 47% to 56%. Indeed the increase was almost as marked as in frogs freshly collected from time to time in which case of course food was available. W.D. H. W. D. H.PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 53 General Mechanism of the Transformation of Glycogen into Dextrose in the Muscles and Tissues. F. MAIGNON (Compt. rend. 1907 145 730-732).-The muscles possess an amylase which is regarded as the agent which transforms glycogen into sugar. This occurs continuously in the normal state but is exaggerated under certain influences ; crushing accelerates it because by that means the glycogen and the.enzyme are brought more closely &to contact. W. D. H. Creatine and Creatinine in Meat and Meat Extracts. A. D. EMMETT and HARRY S. GRINDLEY (J. Biol. Chem. 1907 3 491-516. Compare Abstr. 1906 ii 242)-With certain modifications the Folin method is as applicable to meat and meat extracts as it is to urine. Creatine and creatinine together are present to the extent of 0.45% in meat and from 1’4% to 6.5% in meat extracts.Hehner gives the latter number as 10-12%; his methods are criticised. Chemical Composition of Hair. THOMAS A. RUTHERFORD and PHILIP B. HAWK (J. Biol. Ckem. 1907 3 459-490).-The chemical composition of human hair is influenced by race sex age colour of hair and other factors. As judged by the numerous tables presented the differences do not appear to be great. In different races the sulphur-nitrogen ratio for instance varies from 1 3.2 to 1 2.9. W. D. H. W. D. H. Tissue Respiration in Perfused Kidneys. HORACE M. VERNON (J. Physiol. 1907 36 81-92. Compare Abstr. 1907 ii lll).- After perfusion of an excised mammalian kidney with Locke’s solution for eleven hours the gaseous metabolism falls to half its initial value.This does not occur if 2% of rabbit’s serum is added; sheep’s serum is less efficient egg-white much less so and milk is of no value at all. Witte’s peptone (0.01% to 1%) is as efficient as serum proteins; diglycyl-glycine glycine and leucine have a slight sustaining influ- ence but urea produces a distinct improvement. Grab Extract. Iv. D. ACKERMANN and FRIEDRICH KUTSCHER (ZeitscA. Nahr. Genussm. 1907 14 6S7-691).-1n addition to the bases recorded previously (Abstr. 1907 ii 283 491) as being present in this extract the following have been isolated crangitine methyl- pyridonium hydroxide neosine and crangonine. W. D. H. Crangitine hydrochloride m. p. 160’. The aurichloride C1,H,,,O,N2,2HAuC1 forms short pale yellow prisms m.p. 162-165’. Crangonine auri- chloride forms groups of short needles m. p. 130-140’ (not sharp). Neither base was obtained in the uncombined state. w. P. s. Spectroscopic and Chemical Behaviour of the Pigment Secretion of Aplysia punctata. RAFFAELE PALADINO (Beitr. chem. Physiol. Path. 1907 11 65-70)-A table is given of the absorption spectra of the pigment in various solvents ; the results differ not incon- siderably from those obtained by previous observers such as MacMunn (Abstr. 1899 ii 313). The chloroform extract of a solution of the54 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS pigment in dilute acetic acid left on evaporation a partially crystal- line substance containing nitrogen and iron and perhaps traces of manganese. G B. Excretion of Creatine and Creatinine in Hepatic Disease.E. MELLANBY (Proc. Plhpiol. Soc. 1907 xxiii ; J. Physiol. 30).-1n ascitic fluid due t o liver disease no creatine or creatinine is found. I n this condition creatinine is diminished in the urine; this is attributed to circulatory disturbance and lessened hepatic functions. Creatine in the urine is increased in cancer of the liver (two cases) ; this is attributed to breakdown of muscle failure to convert it into creatinine or a direct production in the turnour. EMIL ABDERHALDEN and BRUNO BLOCH (Zeitsch. plupio2. Chem. 1907 53 464-483).-Administra- tion of large amounts of water to a patient suffering from alcaptonuria caused a great increase in the excretion of nitrogen but the quantity of homogentisic acid remained constant ; the urinary ammonia was increased.The action of water is believed not to be due t o an increase of nitrogenous metabolism but mainly to a washing out of the products readily. No conclusive answer mas obtained t o the question whether the urinary nitrogen comes chiefly from exogenous or endogenous metabolism ; after inanition however the rise in excretion after giving nitrogenous food is very rapid. Some ohserva- tions were also made on the value of gelatin and amino-acids in the diet. About half of the protein-nitrogen was replaceable by gelatin but it is of importance not merely to examine the urine on the day of administration as after effects are seen for some days later. Both gelatin and amino-acids increased the excretion of homogentisic acid. W. D. H. W. D. H.Metabolism in Alcaptonuria. Uroleucic Acid. ARCHIBALD E. GARROD and WILLIAM H. HARTLEY (J. Physiol. 1907 36 136-142).-The existence of a second alcapton acid in cases of alcaptonuria has been mooted by severaliobservers who have named it after Kirk uroleucic acid. The present investigation lends no support to this idea ; uroleucic acid is 5t residue consisting of homogentisic acid mixed with impurities. W. D. H. Xanthine as a Cause of Fever. ARTHUR R. MANDEL (Amer. J. Physiol. 1907 20 439-443).-1n fever there is a distinct relation- ship between rise of temperature and the appearance of purine bases in tbe urine. The administration of xanthine or caffeine will effect a rise of body temperature in monkeys. This may be neutralised by the simultaneous administration of sodium salicylate.It is suggested (1) that in aseptic fever the fall in uric acid is due to lessened circulation through the kidneys owing to vaso-constriction ; (2) that in surgical fever the purine bases are derived from crushed tissues; (3) that in septic fevers the action of toxins is to lessen the power of such tissues as muscle to oxidise xanthine to uric acid and (4) that xanthine forms a combination with salicylic acid similar to diuretin ( = caffeine + salicylic acid) thereby rendering it innocuous. W. D. H.PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 55 Action of Aconitine on Nerve Fibres. AUGUSTUS D. WALLER (Proc. Physiol. Soc. 1907 xxx-xxxii ; J. Physiol. 36).-If a frog is chloroformed and then killed by aconitine its nerves give no electrical response on excitation.If a normal frog’s nerve is bathed in a solution of aconitine it exhibits a peculiarity also produced by proto- veratrine namely the response is persistent and is not followed by an after effect in the opposite direction ; the normal unfatiguability OF a normal nerve is also abolished. W. D. H. Physiological Action of Adrenaline w. I<RETIJCHhfER (nrch. exp. Path. Pharm. 1907 57 423-437 438-440).-The administra- tion of repeated doses of adrenaline in animals raises the blood- pressure until a maximum is reached and it can be kept up by keeping up the injection. On cessation the blood-pressure returns to normal the rate of return being inversely proportional to the amount in the blood previously and this gradually disappears. The rate of return is decreased by the administration of acids the acid ions inhibiting the destruction of adrenaline in the blood and tissues.W. D. H. Hypnotic Action of the Valeric Acid Group. A. VAN DER EECKHOUT (Arch. exp. Path. Pharm. 1907 57 338-357).-Tho recently-introduced narcotic Brornoural is monobromoisovaleryl- carbamide CHMe,.CHBr*CO*N~*CO*~H~ m. p. 149’. It is a pure narcotic producing no primary excitation and no ill effects even in large doses in frogs rabbits and dogs. It acts rapidly having a selective action on the cerebrum and leaving the bulb and cord intact. A large number of similar sub- stances were investigated and as s rule their activity is propor- tional to their solubility in fats. Chloroisovnlerylcarbamide and a-bromo-a-met hylbutyrylcarbamide are also narcotics ; bromoisovaler- amide is narcotic and toxic ; iodoisovalerylcarbamide bromobutyryl- carbamide and bromobutyramide are toxic and the following corn- pounds are either very feeble narcotics or are inactive bromovaleryl- carbamide isovalerylcarbamide valerylcarbamide bromoisobutyryl- carbsmide and bromoisobutyramide. It has no cumulative action.W. D. H Nitrite Poisoning after the Internal Administration of Bismuth Subnitrate. A. BOHME (Arch. exp. Path. Pharm. 1907 57 441-453).-The administration of large quantities of bismuth subnitrate in men leads to the formation of nitrous acid and the con- sequence is methacmoglobinuria. The same follows in vitro in bacterial cultures and is also produced by mixing fecal matter with the salt. Similar results were obtained in experiments in animals. W. D. H. Cresol Poisoning. FERDINAND BLUNENTHAL and ERNST JACOBY (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1907 7 39-44).-Whilst it is not denied that cresol affects many organs such as the liver injuriously the principal cause of death is held to be the combination of the poison with the lipoids of the brain. Cresol readily forms compounds with fats and56 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. fat-like substmces. The amount found per gram of brain is very constant whatever the dose of cresol given. If however the cresol is administered dissolved in olive oil poisonous symptoms are not readily produced; it is absorbed slowly and excreted by the kidneys rapidly. I n such cases the amount in the brain is much less than when cresol is given in aqueous solution. Full protocols of experi- ments are given. W. D. H.