PHY SIOLOQICAL CHEMISTRY. P h y s i o l o g i c a1 C h e m i s t r y . 225 Influence of Nutrition on the Composition of the Blood- ash. By K. LANDSTEINER (Zeit. physioZ. Cliem., 16,13--19).-Verdeil states (Annulen, 69, 89) that the salts of the blood vary with those of the food; an animal fed on flesh has in the blood alkaline phos- phates, which me replaced by carbonates when a vegetable diet is given. Against this view we have the fact (Jarisch, Wiener med. Jahyb., 1871, 435 ; 1877, 1) that the ash of the blood of different animals (men, dogs, horses, oxen) is practically the same, although their diet is different. In the present research, 15 young rabbits were dieted for three months and a half on hay, and another 15 on milk. The ash in the blood was in both cases practically the same, qualita- tively and quantitatively ; such differences as were noticed being ex- plicable by differences in the relation of corpuscles to plasma.In animals with equal amounts of lmmoglobin in their blood, t,he cor- puscular element was probably identical, and here, whatever the diet, the Na20 : K20 quotient and the other analytical details obtained were also identical. W. I). H. Bile during Inanition. By S. 31. LUKJANOW (Zeit. physiol. Chem., 16, 87-142).-The experiments were carried out on guinea pigs, and may be divided into five groups ; the first gronp consisted of normd animals ; the remaining four groups of animals in different stages of226 ABSTRACTS OF OHEMICAL PAPERS, inanition. Very complete analytical tables relating to each experi- ment! are given.The animals were found t o lose on the average 1 per cent. of body weight in four hours four minutes. At; the commencement of inanition, the relative weight of the liver is the smallest ; in the middle period it rises, returning to the normal, and it continnes to rise to the end. I n the initial and middle stages, the liver is poor in water; in the final stage, the amount of water rises, first t o the normal, and then above it. In the blood there is a progressive loss of water. I n the first stage (loss of body weight 5.53 per cent.), the amount of hile per hour per 10 grams of liver substance, and per 1 kilo. of body weight is rather greater than the normal; it then progres- sively sinks, but most rapidly in the middle periods (loss of body weight, 16 to 25 per cent.).This is represented in charts by means of curves. At first the bile is dilut,e, but, later, becomes more con- centrated, soon, however, reaching a maximum at which i t remains ; this increased percentage of solids is chiefly due to the bile salts. The lessening found in the amount of bile secyeted is not solely due to concentration, but also to a, diminution in the solids secreted. The energy of secretion of bile during inanition is thus less .than in normal animals ; but the diminution in energy is most marked during the first half of the hunger period. W. D. H. Carbohydrates of Putrefying Human Urine. Bg G. TREUPEL (Zeit. physiol. Chem., 16, 47--67).-The formation of fatty acids in normal urine when putrefaction sets in is due to the decomposition of its carbohydrates (dextrose and animal gum).In the present research, the furfuraldehyde and a-naphthol reaction was employed for the estimation of sugar (see Abstr., 1891, 1559), the results being con- trolled, in some cases, by Raumann's benzoic chloride method. It was found, that a.s putrefaction advanced the carbohydrate in the urine diminished, but a small quantity always remained, even after very prolonged periods (30 to 47 days). If the urine was exposed to the air, putrefaction and the diminution of carbohydrate occurred more rapidly than in closed vessels. Increase of the temperature to 35" also hastened the process. W. D. H. Ethereal Hydrogen Sulphates in the Urine, and Disinfec- tion of the Alimentary Canal. By A. ROVIGHI (Zeit. physiol.Chem., 16, 20-46) .--Prom experiments on the author's person, 011 various patients, and on clogs, the following conclusions are drawn :- 1. The quantitative estimation of the ethereal hydrogen sulphates in the urine is a trustworthy criterion of the amount of putrefactive change in the intestine. 2. The amount of these substances passed varies with the time of day, so that it is necessary to examine a specimen of the mixed 24 hours' voidings. 3. In children, the amount passed is less than in adults. 4. Oil of turpentine and camphor in large doses lessen the putrefac-PHYSIOLOaIOAL CREMISTRY. 227 tion in the dog's intestine, and, consequently, the output of ethereal sulphntes in the urine. 5. In the human being, given either by mouth or rectum, these drugs have not the same efficacy.6. Tannin clyst,ers lessened, but only very slightly, the ethereal hydrogen sulphate of the urine in a case of enteroperitonitis, where their amount was excessive. 7. A saturated solution of boric acid injected into the intestine is more effective; but the absorption of the acid by the intestinal ~nucous membrane is dangerous. 8. The use of Carlsbad salts and Marienbad water is followed by an increased oiitput of ethereal hydrogen sulphates for the first few days ; this is followed by a very marked diminution. 9. Kephir (l-& litres per diem) is an excellent means of lessening intestinal putrefaction. Its action depends, in part at least, on the lactic acid it contains. TV. D. H. Physiological Action of Strontium Salts. By J. V.LABORDE (Compt. rend. Soc. Biol., 1890, 708-716 ; 1891, 562-566 ; compare Abstr., 1891, 99).--The action of the snlphate? normal tartrate, and orthophosphate of strontium was compared experimentally with that of the corresponding salts of potassium. The results again showed the innocuity of the strontium compounds ; the lactate and tartrate have a slight diuretic action. Elimination takes place chiefly through the faeces. It is partly assimilated, being found in the liver and bones, and, t o a small exteut, is climinated in the urine. Further experiments with the bromide were confirmatory of the foregoing. W. D. H. Physiological Action of Camphors, and of their Compounds with Chloral. By SCHUITT (Colnpt. rend. ~Soc. B i d , 1890, 678- 683).-1n a warm-blooded animal, camphor causes excitation of the central nervous system leading to general convulsions, an increase in the depth of respiration, a, slowing of the heart, with increased force of its beats, and a marked elevation of blood pressure.Borneol and menthol, on the other hand, produce a sedative action on the nerve centres, borneol being the more powerful. Borneol, however, di- minishes the frequency and depth of respiration, the number and force of the heart beats, and produces a fall of blood pressure ; whilst menthcl increases respiratory and cardiac activity, leading to a heightened intravascular pressure. In experiments on rabbits, it was found that by giving borneol after chloral hydrate, the depressing action of the chloral was augmented by that of the borneol, whereas menthol in part counteracted this depression. Starting from this, the physiological action of com- pounds of chloral with the camphors was investigated.Camphor dissolves in anhydrous chloral, but does not form definite compounds with it, whereas borneol and menthol do. The mixture of camphor and chloral produces the same effects as i f the drugs were given successively, the convulsive effects of the camphor being masked by the sedative action of the chloral.228 ABSTRAOTS OF CHEXIOAL PAPERS. Chloral bomiylute, CCI,-CH(OK)*OCloH,,, forms white crystals in- soliible in water, and melts at 45-55". It is very toxic, producing a lowering of blood pressure and temperature to a greater extent than can be accounted for by the amount of chloral i t contains.C7zZoraE menthylate, CCl&H( OH) .OC,,,H,,, is a transparent, yellow- ish liquid, of the consist,ence of glycerol, insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol of go", and in oil. When distilled with water, i t dissociates into menthol and chloral hydrate ; an analogous dissocia- tion in t,he body probably accounts for its physiological mtion. It irritates the mucous membranes when applied locally. Given snbcu- taneously or by the mouth, it leads to paralysis of the posterior limbs, and then to sleep ; the soporific action is the same in its strength and duration as that produced by a corresponding dose of chloral hydrate, although its onset is somewhat delayed. The paralytic effects and lessening of reflex action are due to the menthol. The movements of respiration and of t4he heart are effected in the same way as witli chloral ; the depression of temperature is, however, not so marked.Blood pressure is first lowered, then rises, remaining stationary at a lower level than the original. Thus, to some extent, the menthol corrects the depression due to the chloral. w. I). H. Toxic Action of Blood andof Various Tissues. By J. H ~ R I - COURT and c. RICHET (Compt. rend. A%. Bid., 1890, 695--696).-The blood of one animal is poisonous to that of another species; thus the toxic dose of dogs' blood, as tested in the rabbit, is 40-45 grams per kilo. of body weight. Birds' blood is more poisonous, its toxic dose being 7 grams. Mosso has previously shown, particularly with fishes' blood, that the poisonous effects of the serum are due to its protejids (ichthptoxin) ; and the present experiments confirm this conclusion, as the alcoholic extracts of the blood and spleen, which are, of course, free from prote'id, have lost their toxicity.The alcoholic extract of the muscles of some dogs was, however, poisonous, of others not. W. D. 1". Toxicity of Serum. By A. CHABRIN (Compt. rend. SOC. BioE., 1890, 697).-A preliminary note regarding the toxicity of the serum from cases of urlleniis, confirmatory of the coaclusions in the preceding abstract. W. U. H.PHY SIOLOQICAL CHEMISTRY.P h y s i o l o g i c a1 C h e m i s t r y .225Influence of Nutrition on the Composition of the Blood-ash. By K. LANDSTEINER (Zeit. physioZ. Cliem., 16,13--19).-Verdeilstates (Annulen, 69, 89) that the salts of the blood vary with thoseof the food; an animal fed on flesh has in the blood alkaline phos-phates, which me replaced by carbonates when a vegetable diet isgiven.Against this view we have the fact (Jarisch, Wiener med.Jahyb., 1871, 435 ; 1877, 1) that the ash of the blood of differentanimals (men, dogs, horses, oxen) is practically the same, althoughtheir diet is different. In the present research, 15 young rabbits weredieted for three months and a half on hay, and another 15 on milk.The ash in the blood was in both cases practically the same, qualita-tively and quantitatively ; such differences as were noticed being ex-plicable by differences in the relation of corpuscles to plasma. Inanimals with equal amounts of lmmoglobin in their blood, t,he cor-puscular element was probably identical, and here, whatever the diet,the Na20 : K20 quotient and the other analytical details obtained werealso identical.W. I). H.Bile during Inanition. By S. 31. LUKJANOW (Zeit. physiol. Chem.,16, 87-142).-The experiments were carried out on guinea pigs, andmay be divided into five groups ; the first gronp consisted of normdanimals ; the remaining four groups of animals in different stages o226 ABSTRACTS OF OHEMICAL PAPERS,inanition. Very complete analytical tables relating to each experi-ment! are given.The animals were found t o lose on the average 1 per cent. ofbody weight in four hours four minutes. At; the commencement ofinanition, the relative weight of the liver is the smallest ; in themiddle period it rises, returning to the normal, and it continnes torise to the end. I n the initial and middle stages, the liver is poorin water; in the final stage, the amount of water rises, first t o thenormal, and then above it. In the blood there is a progressive lossof water.I n the first stage (loss of body weight 5.53 per cent.), the amountof hile per hour per 10 grams of liver substance, and per 1 kilo.ofbody weight is rather greater than the normal; it then progres-sively sinks, but most rapidly in the middle periods (loss of bodyweight, 16 to 25 per cent.). This is represented in charts by meansof curves. At first the bile is dilut,e, but, later, becomes more con-centrated, soon, however, reaching a maximum at which i t remains ;this increased percentage of solids is chiefly due to the bile salts.The lessening found in the amount of bile secyeted is not solely dueto concentration, but also to a, diminution in the solids secreted.The energy of secretion of bile during inanition is thus less .than innormal animals ; but the diminution in energy is most marked duringthe first half of the hunger period.W. D. H.Carbohydrates of Putrefying Human Urine. Bg G. TREUPEL(Zeit. physiol. Chem., 16, 47--67).-The formation of fatty acids innormal urine when putrefaction sets in is due to the decomposition ofits carbohydrates (dextrose and animal gum). In the present research,the furfuraldehyde and a-naphthol reaction was employed for theestimation of sugar (see Abstr., 1891, 1559), the results being con-trolled, in some cases, by Raumann's benzoic chloride method.It wasfound, that a.s putrefaction advanced the carbohydrate in the urinediminished, but a small quantity always remained, even after veryprolonged periods (30 to 47 days). If the urine was exposed to theair, putrefaction and the diminution of carbohydrate occurred morerapidly than in closed vessels. Increase of the temperature to 35"also hastened the process. W. D. H.Ethereal Hydrogen Sulphates in the Urine, and Disinfec-tion of the Alimentary Canal. By A. ROVIGHI (Zeit. physiol.Chem., 16, 20-46) .--Prom experiments on the author's person, 011various patients, and on clogs, the following conclusions are drawn :-1. The quantitative estimation of the ethereal hydrogen sulphatesin the urine is a trustworthy criterion of the amount of putrefactivechange in the intestine.2.The amount of these substances passed varies with the time ofday, so that it is necessary to examine a specimen of the mixed 24hours' voidings.3. In children, the amount passed is less than in adults.4. Oil of turpentine and camphor in large doses lessen the putrefacPHYSIOLOaIOAL CREMISTRY. 227tion in the dog's intestine, and, consequently, the output of etherealsulphntes in the urine.5. In the human being, given either by mouth or rectum, thesedrugs have not the same efficacy.6. Tannin clyst,ers lessened, but only very slightly, the etherealhydrogen sulphate of the urine in a case of enteroperitonitis, wheretheir amount was excessive.7.A saturated solution of boric acid injected into the intestine ismore effective; but the absorption of the acid by the intestinal~nucous membrane is dangerous.8. The use of Carlsbad salts and Marienbad water is followed byan increased oiitput of ethereal hydrogen sulphates for the first fewdays ; this is followed by a very marked diminution.9. Kephir (l-& litres per diem) is an excellent means of lesseningintestinal putrefaction. Its action depends, in part at least, on thelactic acid it contains. TV. D. H.Physiological Action of Strontium Salts. By J. V. LABORDE(Compt. rend. Soc. Biol., 1890, 708-716 ; 1891, 562-566 ; compareAbstr., 1891, 99).--The action of the snlphate? normal tartrate, andorthophosphate of strontium was compared experimentally with that ofthe corresponding salts of potassium.The results again showed theinnocuity of the strontium compounds ; the lactate and tartrate havea slight diuretic action. Elimination takes place chiefly through thefaeces. It is partly assimilated, being found in the liver and bones,and, t o a small exteut, is climinated in the urine.Further experiments with the bromide were confirmatory of theforegoing. W. D. H.Physiological Action of Camphors, and of their Compoundswith Chloral. By SCHUITT (Colnpt. rend. ~Soc. B i d , 1890, 678-683).-1n a warm-blooded animal, camphor causes excitation of thecentral nervous system leading to general convulsions, an increase inthe depth of respiration, a, slowing of the heart, with increased forceof its beats, and a marked elevation of blood pressure.Borneol andmenthol, on the other hand, produce a sedative action on the nervecentres, borneol being the more powerful. Borneol, however, di-minishes the frequency and depth of respiration, the number andforce of the heart beats, and produces a fall of blood pressure ; whilstmenthcl increases respiratory and cardiac activity, leading to aheightened intravascular pressure.In experiments on rabbits, it was found that by giving borneol afterchloral hydrate, the depressing action of the chloral was augmentedby that of the borneol, whereas menthol in part counteracted thisdepression. Starting from this, the physiological action of com-pounds of chloral with the camphors was investigated.Camphor dissolves in anhydrous chloral, but does not form definitecompounds with it, whereas borneol and menthol do.The mixtureof camphor and chloral produces the same effects as i f the drugswere given successively, the convulsive effects of the camphor beingmasked by the sedative action of the chloral228 ABSTRAOTS OF CHEXIOAL PAPERS.Chloral bomiylute, CCI,-CH(OK)*OCloH,,, forms white crystals in-soliible in water, and melts at 45-55". It is very toxic, producing alowering of blood pressure and temperature to a greater extent thancan be accounted for by the amount of chloral i t contains.C7zZoraE menthylate, CCl&H( OH) .OC,,,H,,, is a transparent, yellow-ish liquid, of the consist,ence of glycerol, insoluble in water,soluble in alcohol of go", and in oil.When distilled with water, i tdissociates into menthol and chloral hydrate ; an analogous dissocia-tion in t,he body probably accounts for its physiological mtion. Itirritates the mucous membranes when applied locally. Given snbcu-taneously or by the mouth, it leads to paralysis of the posterior limbs,and then to sleep ; the soporific action is the same in its strength andduration as that produced by a corresponding dose of chloral hydrate,although its onset is somewhat delayed. The paralytic effects andlessening of reflex action are due to the menthol. The movements ofrespiration and of t4he heart are effected in the same way as witlichloral ; the depression of temperature is, however, not so marked.Blood pressure is first lowered, then rises, remaining stationary at alower level than the original. Thus, to some extent, the mentholcorrects the depression due to the chloral. w. I). H.Toxic Action of Blood andof Various Tissues. By J. H ~ R I -COURT and c. RICHET (Compt. rend. A%. Bid., 1890, 695--696).-Theblood of one animal is poisonous to that of another species; thusthe toxic dose of dogs' blood, as tested in the rabbit, is 40-45 gramsper kilo. of body weight. Birds' blood is more poisonous, its toxicdose being 7 grams. Mosso has previously shown, particularly withfishes' blood, that the poisonous effects of the serum are due to itsprotejids (ichthptoxin) ; and the present experiments confirm thisconclusion, as the alcoholic extracts of the blood and spleen, whichare, of course, free from prote'id, have lost their toxicity. The alcoholicextract of the muscles of some dogs was, however, poisonous, ofothers not. W. D. 1".Toxicity of Serum. By A. CHABRIN (Compt. rend. SOC. BioE., 1890,697).-A preliminary note regarding the toxicity of the serum fromcases of urlleniis, confirmatory of the coaclusions in the precedingabstract. W. U. H