40 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. P h y si ol og i cal C h emi s t r y. Composition of Normal Gastric Juice. By ADOLF SCH~LE (Chern. Centr., 1898, i, 347, from Zed. kZin. Med., 33, 543-546),- A case is described in which gastric juice was obtainable free from saliva; it contained some flakes of mucin ; the free hydrochloric acid varied from 0.09-0.2 per cent. ; the sp. gr. = 1.0012. The peptonising power of 3 C.C. was 50-55 per cent. (Hammerschlag’s method) ; the juice did not invert cane-sugar, neither did it give the xanthoproteic reaction, nor the tests for albumoses or peptone. Influence of Organic Foods on Inorganic Metabolism. By ANGELO PUGLIESE (Chem, Cenntr., 1898, i, 266-267; from Du Bois Reymond’s Archiu, 1897, 473-485).-0n the administration of carbo- hydrates and fats to dogs, the excretion of nitrogen and phosphates sinks; gelatin also causes a fall in the phosphates excreted.Sugar and, to a less degree, fat and gelatin, produce a rise in the output of sodium and potassium, the alkaline earths, however, not being affected. The total quantity of urine is lessened by feeding with sugar, but increased by intravenous injection of sugar. Very small quantities of sugar increase the output of nitrogen and phosphates. W. D. H. W. D. H. Oxidation of Acetone and Homologous Fatty Ketones [in the Organism].-By LEO SCHWARZ (Chern. Centr., 1898, i, 264 ; from Arch. exp. Path. Pharrn., 40, 168-1 94).-The separation of acetone is chiefly effected by the lungs. With doses of 0.2 to 1.6 grams per kilo- gram weight of the animal, 1-4 per cent. is found in the urine, and when larger quantities are administered, proportionately greater amounts are thus separated.Since very small quantities of acetone are not completely oxidised in the body, acetone cannot occur as an intermediate product of physiological action, and neither albumin nor carbohydrates yield acetone when oxidised with potassium permangan- ate. The power of oxidising acetone in dogs is not diminished by in- ducing diabetes in them by means of phloridzin, or by extirpation of the pancreas, but the organism is then able to form acetone from aceto- acetic acid, whereas in the healthy animal acetoacetic acid, hydroxy- isobutyric acid, /I-hydroxybutyric acid, and mesityl oxide do not yield acetone. In the healthy organism, however, acetone is formed from acetoxime, and the mixed ketones of the fatty series are partly oxi- dised and partly excreted.Of the ketones examined, diethyl ketone is physiologically the most easily oxidised. Presence of Manganese in Minerals, Plants, and Animals. By P. PICHARD (Compt. rend., 1898,126,18S2-1885).-Manganese seems to be universally diffused in rocks, plants, and animals. The author gives a list of 36 orders of plants, including both phanerogams and cryptogams, in which he has detected this element by the method previously described. J t seems to be concentrated in the leaves and E. W. W.PHYSIOLOGICAJ, CHEMISTRY. 41 other parts of the plant that are in active growth, and especially in the seeds of phanerogams. The proportion of manganese in animals is much smaller than in plants.It is noteworthy that the yolkof an egg contains much more than the white, an egg contains more than flesh, and flesh contains more than bones. C. H. B. By B. MOORE and SWALE VINCENT (Proc. Roy. Xoc., 1898,62, 352-354).- The suprarenal capsules of teleostean fishes resemble, anatomically, the inter-renal body of elasmobranchs, and the cortex of mammalian suprarenals. The chromogen present in the medulla of mammalian suprarenals is absent, and extracts of the teleostean capsules are physiologically inactive. No organ corresponding to the medulla is found in these fishes. Comparative Chemistry of the Suprarenal Capsules. W. D. H. Presence of Organic Chlorine in Normal Urine. By DIOSCORIDE VITALI (L’Orosi, 1897, 20, 114-119 ; 145--153).-The question of the existence in urine of chlorine in various forms of combination is discussed, and an account is given of the experiments which have hitherto been made with a view to distinguishing between the chlorine present as chlorides and that existing in intimate combination with organic substances and incapable of being directly precipitated by silver nitrate.The results obtained by previous observers are criticised in detail, and sundry discrepancies therein are shown to be due to defec- tive methods of analysis. That ‘‘ organic chlorine ” exists in urine to a small, but not insignificant, extent, is demonstrated by the following process, which appears to be free from sources of error. The urine is rendered distinctly acid with pure nitric acid, a slight excess of silver nitrate added, and the liquid filtered from the precipitated silver chloride.The excess of silver in the filtrate is removed by hydrogen sulphide, the liquid filtered, warmed to expel hydrogen sulphide, filtered again, mixed with potassium nitrate and excess of sodium carbonate, evaporated t o dryness in a platinum dish, and incinerated. The residue is extracted with water, and to the filtered solution, after acidification with nitric acid, silver nitrate is added; the precipitate thus obtained is soluble in ammonia, but insoluble in boiling concentrated nitric acid, and does not, therefore, consist of silver cyanide, as has been suggested by some experimenters. Some experiments made with the object of ascertaining the nature of the organic chlorine compounds in urine, showed that they are not extracted from acid or alkaline urine by ether, chloroform, or light petroleum.Phosphorus in Urine. By LEOPOLD JOLLY (Compt. yernd., 1898,127, 11 8-1 19).-Sometimes urine contains phosphorns in a form tbat is not precipitated even by a large excess of ammoniacal magnesium mixture, and this phosphorus has been supposed to exist in an incompletely oxidised form (LBpine and Aubert), or as phosphoglyceric acid. The author finds, however, that the urine of many patients suffering from nervous disorders or diathesia, and even the urine of healthy persons after an excess of food, contains peculiar nitrogen compounds which are not affected by the ordinary reagents for N. L.42 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. albumins and peptones, but are precipitated by tannin and by concen- trated mercuric chloride solution, These nitrogen compounds retain some metallic phosphates in such intimate association that the phosphoric acid in them is not precipitated by magnesium mixture, and the author considers that it is these phosphates, and not phosphoglyceric acid or any incompletely oxidised form of phosphorus, that escapes precipitation by the ordinary method. By WILLIAIII OECHSNER DE CONINCK (Cornpi.rend., 1898, 127,72).-The urine in five cases of rachitis was found to contain chlorides (calculated as sodium chloride ‘I) ranging from 11.22 to 12-14 grams per litre. These results, corresponding with a considerable loss of chlorine, are in accordance with the author’s views as to the nature of the disease.N. L. By HEINRICH ROSIN (Chem. Cent?*., 1898, i, 74-75; from Bedin. KZin. Woch, 34, 1044--1047).-1n a female patient suffering from myelogenic sarcoma of the thoracic skeleton, a proteose resembling in general characters deutero-albumose was present in the urine, Chemistry of Amyloid Degeneration. By N. P. KRAWKOFF (Chem. Centr., 1898, i, 261-262; from Arch. exp. Path. Phwm., 1897, 40, 195--220).-The author describes the occurrence of chondroitin- sulphuric acid in healthy and diseased men and animals. The amyloid substance is prepared from the various organs, the liver, kidneys, and spleen, from which the Glisson’s capsule and the larger vessels have been removed, by treating them in small pieces with cold water and a dilute solution of ammonia.The mass is macerated on a nickel gauze sieve, and washed with dilute ammonia until the filtrate is free from chondroitinsulphuric acid. After washing with water, it is digested for several days with pepsin-hydrochloric acid, the mass then treated with ammonia, in which the greater part dissolves, and the amyloid precipitated with hydrochloric acid. The flocculent precipitate is washed with water, alcohol, and ether. The product contained C, 46.92 ; H, 6.60 ; N, 14.16, and P, 1-16 per cc it. The phosphorus is due to the presence of nucleins which may be removed by treating the freshly-precipitated substance with baryta water. The amyloid gives the reaction with methyl-violet, but the reaction with iodine is dependent on its physical condition. Analyses of four preparations are quoted.The amyloid is insoluble in weak alkalis, and is a com- bination of chondroitinsulphuric acid with an albuminous substance ; by the action of pepsin-hydrochloric acid, the latter is possibly con- verted into an albumose complex. In healthy organisms, the amyloid occurs so sparsely distributed in the walls of arteries, that the colour Pharmacology of Aconitine, Diacetylaconitine, Benzaconine, and Aconine. BY J. THEODORE CASH and WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN (PYOC. Roy. Xoc., 1898, 62, 338--347).--Action on the Cie.cuZc&on. -Aconitine first stimulates the medullary centres, slowing the heart ; acceleration follows, auricles and ventricles taking up an independent rhythm. Imperfect systole and delirium of the ventricles may C. H. B. Elimination of Chlorides in Rachitis.Proteose in Urine. W. H. D. reactions are not apparent. E. w. w.PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMlSTRY. 43 follow. If the poisoning is slow, stimulation of the cardiac vagus ceases to produce the usual inhibitory effect. The vaso-motor centre is first stimulated, then depressed. Diacetylaconitine produces in the main the same results, but in a less marked manner. Benzaconine produces a preliminary acceleration of the pulse, and then slowing, with fall of blood pressure, ensues; this is due to the depression of the motor mechanism within the heart. The vaso- motor centre is depressed, Vagus stimulation causes slowing until a late stage of the poisoning is reached. Digitaline is an effective antagonist. Aconine is comparatively harmless. Action, on Res~ircction.-Aconitine first stimulates, then depresses, the respiratory centre and the pulmonary sensory vagal fibres.Diacetylaconitine produces a slighter initial stimulation ; death results from central failure, Benzaconine depresses the ce;l tzes from the first. Respiratory failure is partly produced by act on on motor nerve endings, and causes death without spasm. Aconine slows the respiration, and has a pronounced curare-like action on the motor nerve endings. Actioa on the Nervous 8ystem.-Aconitine produces no distinct narcotic effect, but the depression is secondary to diminution of oxidation processes from cardiac and respiratory failure. There is preliminary stimulation. Sensation is depressed. Respiratory spasm occurs a t death. Diacetylaconitine produces a similar, but less marked, effect. Benzaconine causes a semi-narcotised condition, which is partly Sensory nerves are but little referable to low intracranial pressure. affected. Aconine produces loss of volition in large doses. Action on Oxidation.-Tested with vegetable protoplasm, all reduce oxidation processes, aconitine being the most, and aconine the least, active. All produce a fall of body temperature in the same order of activity , Lethal Doses.-These are stated in fractions of a gram per kilo. of body weight for cat, rabbit, guinea-pig, and frog. The figures for the cat are : Aconitine .............................. O*OUO134 Diacetylaconitine ..................... 0.004 to 0.006 Benzaconine ........................... 0.0245 Aconine ................................. 0.16 to 0.4 General Conclusions.-The introduction of two additional acetyl groups into the molecule of aconitine slightly weakens, but does not materially modify, its action. The removal of the acetyl group so as to form benzaconine almost entirely annuls its characteristic actions. The withdrawal of the benzoyl group (as in aconine) reduces the toxicity still more. In fact, aconine and benzaconino are largely antagonistic to aconitine. IT. D. H.