ii. 50 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Physiological Chemistry Asphyxia in the Spinal Animal R. KAYA and ERNEST Ha STARLING (J. Physiol. 1909 39 346-353). -In asphyxia the increased tension of carbon dioxide in the blood excites the brain centres including those in the bulb ; this produces exaggerated attempts to breathe and a rise of arterial pressure but no injurious action on the heart. The convulsions which follow are due t o excit- ation of the spinal centres by lack of oxygen and the heart failure which leads to a fall of pressure is also due to the same cause. W. D. H. *Supposed Preaence of Carbon Monoxide in Normal Blood and in the Blood of Animals Anzesthetised with Chloroform. GEORGE A. BUCKMASTER and JOHN A. GARDNER (Proc. Boy. Xoc. 1909 B 81 516-528).-For detecting carbon monoxide the authors use the spectroscopic test and the admittedly delicate method of H aldane.Carbon monoxide is not a normal constituent of blood-gases. Chloro- form is not decomposed in the blood with the formation of carbon monoxide. Chloroform vapour contained in the blood-gases of anaesthetised animals yields carbon monoxide when these gases are passed over potash. The small quantities of iodine found in Desgrez and Niclaux’s experiments in which the normal blood-gases are passed over iodine pentoxide a t 150° are probably due to the decomposition of this substance a t this temperature. G. S. W. Comparison of the Haemoglobin of certain Molluscs with that of Vertebrates. RAFFAELE PALADINO (Biocherrz. Zeitsch. 1909 22,495-505).-The hEmoglobin from various molluscs was compared with that obtained from ScyEZium and the dog.It did not differ essentially from these although certain minor differences were observed ; the mollusc blood for example is more readily changed by 10% acetic acid and less readily by 10% sodium hydroxide solution ; it is also more difficult to obtain in crystalline form. s. B. s. Effect of Temperature on the Dissociation Curve of Blood. JOSEPH BARCROFT and W. 0. R. KING (J. I’hysioE. 1909,39,374-384). -Dissociation curves of undialysed hzemoglobin solution in water are given at different temperatures in the presence and absence of carbon dioxide ; in a solution of potassium chloride the presence of carbon dioxide is relatively more powerful in the reduction of haemoglobin than in the removal of oxygen. I n low forms of animal life in which hsmoglobin is retained in store in muscles or nervous tissue the oxygen can be withdrawn in case of need for instance in partial asphyxia or great activity ; a favourable condition for the ready with- drawal of oxygen woulcl be rise of temperature or rise of carbon dioxide tension.The influence of temperature is evident also in the blood In muscular exercise with its accompanying rise of tempera-PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY ii. 5 1 ture in fever and in inflammation the organism or part of it requires oxygen at a more rapid rate than usual; the rise of body-temperature enables the blood to meet this demand and is in fact the counterpart of vascular dilatation W. D. H. Hcemolysis. OSCAR GROS (Arch. exp. Path.Pharm. 1909 62 l-38).-Haemolysis is due to two factors (1) the death of the corpuscles ; (2) to physico-chemical changes which lead t o the passage of haemoglobin out of them. The second factor can be best studied if the changes occur rapidly as when caused by ammonia. The velocity of the change is then proportional to the concentration of the ammonia and inversely proportional to the concentration of the blood. Various salts were studied in the same way at different temperatures. Various ions favour hemolysis at 47-5' in the following order Na<Mg<K<Ca; C1<S04; and at 50° Mg<Na<K<Ca; Cl<SO,. The inhibitory action of serum on htemolysis is not destroyed by heating to 65'. W. D. H. The Disintegration and Life of Blood-platelets. H. DEETJEN (Zeitsch.physiol. Chern. 1909 63 1-26).-Blood-platelets from human blood can be isolated by collecting the blood between the object glass and cover slip and washing with physiological saline. In this way the other elements can be removed ; the platelets alone remain sticking to the glass. They rapidly disintegrate under ordinary conditions but remain however intact if quartz is used instead of glass and the saline solution is perfectly neutral. I n the presence of minute traces of alkali (CoH = and of somewhat larger quantities of acid (C = 2*10-4) they disintegrate. The action of the hydroxyl ions is indirect ; they either influence a ferment or cause the liberation of a ferment which causes the disintegration of the platelets. This statement is made in consequence of the fact that even in the presence of alkali the platelets can under certain con- ditions remain intact. Thus they are protected from disintegration by the presence of hirudin manganese salts Witte's peptone and peroxides.From the investigations with hirudin the conclusion is drawn that the platelets themselves secrete an enzyme which leads finally to their destruction. The platelets after treatment with hirudin are not disintegrated by alkali although they are by plasma. The destroying ferment is not identical with the blood-clotting ferment although it is possibly with the pro-ferment. Nanganese salts do not entirely inhibit the disintegration but only retard i t ; on the other hand they inhibit blood-clottings owing perhaps to action on the pro-ferment.Witte's peptone paralyses the platelets and thus inhibits the secretionof the ferment. Peroxides entirely inhibit t h e disintegration of the isolated ferments. The explanation of this fact is not obvious. By means of the peroxide method the action of the living platelets can be demonstrated. The presence of a nucleus nuclear membrane and amaeboid movement can then be shown. The disintegration of the platelets after removal from the blood-vessels is due to the evolution of carbon dioxide and the increased concentration of the 4-2ii. 52 ABSTRACTS OF CBEMICAL PAPEPS. hydroxyl ions. with those from man; those from the ape are very similar. The platelets from other animals are not all identical S B S. Spectro-photometry of Blood. EUGEN LETSCHE (Zeitsch.physiol. CAem. 1909 63 313-314).-Remarks on the usefulness of Hufner’s spectro-photometer. In spite of its faults i t gives good results in accustomed hands. W D. H. bfluence of Stereochemical Configuration on Certain Physico-chemical Properties of Organic Colloids. GIUSEPPE BUGLIA and L. KARCZAG (Atti R. Accud. Lincei 1909 [v] 18 ii 374-380).-The authors have determined the influence of d - 1- i- and r-tartaric acids in various concentrations on the time of coagula- tion by heating of normal blood-serum and of blood-serum dialysed until it has become neutral. All these acids have a marked influence on the coagulation at first accelerating it and subsequently retarding and even absolutely preventing it. &Tartaric acid which is diseociated to a less extent than the other acids also produces less acceleration of the coagulation and renders the serum non-coagulable in lower concentrations than with the active and racemic acids.With these three acids which are approximately equally dissociated the influences on the coagulation are about the same. T. H. P. The Laws of Digestion and Absorption. SVANTE ARRHENIUS (Zeitsch. physiol. Chem. 1909 63 323-377).-A mathematical discus- sion of the laws relating to the velocity etc. of digestive processes. The rule of the square root appears to play a dominating part. London’s work on the subject 1s on the whole corroborated. W. D. H. The Enzymes concerned in Nuclein Metabolism in Human Organs. ALFRED SCHITTENHELM. The Fate of Nucleic Acid contained in the Food of Normal Men. F ~ ~ A N Z FRANK and ALFRED SCHITTENHELM.The Occurrence and Importance of Allantoin in Human Urine. ALFRED SCHITTENHELM and KARL WIENER. The Enzymes Concerned in Nuclein Metabolism in Lupin Seed- lings. ALFRED SCHITTENHELM (Zeitsch. physiol. Chem. 1909 63 248-268 269-282 283-288 289).-The capacity of the human liver and other organs t o form uric acid is undoubted and can be readily demonstrated in extracts by their action on guanine. Com- menting on W. Jones’ statement regarding the absence of adenase in human organs it is pointed out t h a t unquestionably adenine dis- appears during life the urine containing only traces after abundant ingestion of that substance when sweetbread is taken as food. It is therefore doubtful whether the action of extracts is a true index of vital metabolism; if an extract gives a positive result it is no doubt of the same nature as that occurring during life; but if a negative result occur that does not necessarily mean that a positive result may not occur during actual metabolism in the living organ.It is quite true again that extracts of human organa contain no uricolyticPHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. ii. 53 enzyme that is to say destruction of uric acid does not occur post- mortem ; it is unscientific to conclude from this that uricolysis does not occur during life. Both in animals and men nucleic acid given in the food is completely absorbed and undergoes metabolism and the end-products are excreted during the same day. This comes out quite clearly by a study OE nitrogen and phosphorus excretion.The proportion between the different end-products varies in different animals; in man the main one is urea the uric acid formed is small in amount and the purine bases of the urine are minimal. The uric acid formed is doubtless again largely destroyed and the nitrogen finally is contained in urea. The meaning of allantoin in the urine is far from clear; if uric acid precursors are administered the amount of allantoin does not increase in the urine. If allantoin is given by the mouth or sub- cutaneously about 30% is recoverable in the urine. It cannot there- fore be an important end-product of uric acid catabolism. The expressed juice or aqueous extracts of lupin seedlings contain an amidaee which converts guanine into xanthine. 'CV. D. H. The Elimination of Total Nitrogen Urea and Ammonia following the Administration of Amino-acids Glycylglycine and Glycylglycine Anhydride.PH~BUS A. LEVENE and G. M. MEYEE (Amer. J. Physiol. 1909 25 214-230).-The results of these metabolism experiments on dogs are given with full detail ; the extra nitrogen administered is usually excreted within twenty-four hours but this rate varies and the proportion of urea ammonia etc. also varies in different cases. I t is specially rapid after the ingestion of amino-acids. W. D. H. The Influence of Removal of Segments of the Gastro- intestinal Tract on the Character of Protein Metabolism. ISAAC LEVIN D. D. MANSON and PH~BUS A. LEVENE (Anlev. J. Physiol 1909 25 231-253).-After excision of portions of the alimentary canal an unexpected acceleration in the absorption and elimination of nitrogen is the most noteworthy result.W. D. H. The Influence of Certain Mercury Compounds on Meta- bolism. GUIDO IZAR (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1909 22 371-393).- Mercury when introduced directly into the circulation either in form of a hydrosol or of salts markedly stimulates the nitrogenous metabolism and the amount of nitrogen in the urine is considerably increased. Larger doses however of sublimate calomel hygrol and mercuric thiosulphate are necessary to produce the same effect as a given dose of the hydrosol. There is no difference between the actions of stabilised and non-stabilised colloids. The increase of urea and uric acid in the urine runs parallel with the increase in total nitrogen. 8. B. S. [The Permeability of Cells for Dyes.] W.RUHLAND (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1909 22 409-410).-The author objects to the attempted explanation of Hober (Abatr. 1909 ii 912) of the reason why wool-ii. 54 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. violet-S and other dyes do not behave in accordance with the Overton lipoid theory. S. B. S. Nucleo-protein in the Yolk Platelets of the Frog’s Egg; and the Black Pigment. J. E. MC~LENDON (Amer. J. Physiol. 1909 25 195-198).-The nucleo-protein investigated is probably more properly to be considered a lecitho-protein or vitellin-like substance. It is termed batrachiolin; it contains Y 1*2% S 1*32% and N 15.14%. Analyses are also given of the black pigment which appears to belong to the melanins but it was not satisfactorily freed from impurities. The Catalase of Echinoderm Eggs before and a f t e r Fertilisation.ELIAS P. LYON (Amer. J. Physiol. 1909 25 199-203).-1f the eggs are treated with hydrogen peroxide much more oxygen is set free by eggs which have been fertilised than by unfertilised eggs. The maximum is reached in twenty minutes after fertilisation. The increase in catalase is due either to a kinase in the sperm cell or by an increase in the permeability of the egg so that peroxide and catalase come more easily together. W. D. H. W. D. H. [Analyses of Brains. Distribution of Sulphur in Brains.] WALDEMAR KOCH (J. Amer. Chern. SOC. 1909 31 1329-1335). WALDEMAR KOCH and FRED. W. UPSON (ibid. 1355-1364)-See this vol. ii 78 79. G. LILJESTRAND (Skand. Archiv. Physiol. 1909 22 339-348)- Magnesium sulphate and chloride paralyse the motor nerves of the frog but this occurs late and is preceded by a stimulating action.Weak F O ~ U - tions are not stimulating. Sodium chloride has a similar action. Zinc chloride acts in the same way but much more strongly. Influence of Different Substances on the Gaseous Exchange of the Surviving Muscular Tiesue of Frogs. I. and 11. TORSTEN TRUNBERG (&and. Archiv. Physiol. 1909 22 406-429 430-436).- I. The measurements were made by means of the author’s micro- respirometer generally in an atmosphere of oxygen. In the intact muscular tissue tbe gaseous exchange is less than that of muscular tissue which has been cut by scissors ; it is greater however than in muscular tissue which has been ground up with sand so as to destroy the cell structure.Previous extraction of t,he tissue with physiological saline caused n marked diminution of the gaseous exchange; with isotonic neutral potassium phosphate the diminution was less. The maximum of gaseous exchange takes place in isotonic saline ; increase in the salt concentration causes a rapid diminution. There is not much difference in the gaseous exchange when the measurement is made after treatment with solutions of chlorides of the different alkali metals; the chlorides of the alkaline earths on the other hand cause considerable diminution. The action of the potassium halide salts is similar with the exception of the fluoride which causes a markod diminution in the gaseous exchange. The Action of Certain Salts on Frogs’ Motor Nerves. W. D. H.PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY ii.55 11. Oxalic malonic and succinic acids in the form of their potassium salts affect the gaseous exchange considerably diminishing more especially the carbon dioxide output. The respiratory quotient is con- sequently affected by these salts. Other acids investigated do not affect the respiratory quotient in this manner. S. B. S. The Formation of Carbon Dioxide in Surviving Tissues. OLAV HANSSEN (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1909 22 433-441).-The author gives a method for estimating the carbon dioxide evolved by surviving tissues (chiefly liver) when suspended in physiological Faline at 37”. The influence of antiseptics and other substances on the action was determined Certain substances such as sodium p- hydroxybutyrate caused increased carbon dioxide output.Sodium lactate caused a slight increase. Most other sodium and ammonium salts had but little action ; sodium glycollate however inhibited the output. S. B. S. Water Rigor in Frog’s Muscle. EDWARD B. MEIGS (J. Physiol. 1909 39 385-390).-The statement of du Bois Reymond that in water rigor of frog’s muscle as in other forms of rigor sarcolactic acid is formed was confirmed by the thiophen test. If the muscle is then placed in Ringer’s solution it loses acid and lengthens. This is regarded as a confirmation of the view that the acid is the cause not the result or accompaniment of the shortening. W. D. H. Action of Cinchona Alkaloids on Muscle. VICTOR H. ‘VELEY and AUGUSTUS D. WALLER (Proc. physiol. Soc. 1909 xix-xxi ; J. Yhysiol. 39).-The relative toxicity of poisons can be well studied by their effect on the direct excitability of the frog’s sartorius.In the case of the alkaloids examined the figures obtained are cinchon- amine 400 quinine 100 quinidine 50 cinchonine and cinchonidine 25. These figures agree very well with what would have been anticipated from physicochemical data. W. D. H. Extractives of Fish Muscle. FRIEDRICR KUTSCHER (Zeitsch. physiol. Chem. 1909 63 104-105).-A reply to Suzuki and Toshimura (Abstr. 1909 ii 9lO).-The base C,H,,O,N isolated from Ommastrephes sp. agrees in properties withLbetaine and not with 6-aminovaleric acid as stated by these authors. Furthermore other bases described by them such as arginine leucine lysine and proline have already been isolated in the author’s laboratory from extracts of sea and laud animals.S. B. S. The Occurrence of Inactive Lactic Acid in a Meat Extract. ERNST SALKOWSKI (Zeitgch. physiol. Chem. 1909 63 237-247).-Valentine’s meat juice has a minimal nutritive value. Its colour is due to a pigment which was not identified but is possibly a derivative of hsemoglobin. When kept it deposits a crystalline precipitate of magnesium salts among which lactate is present. The lactic acid is of the optically inactive kind. The freshly prepared juice contains sarcolactic acid but as time goes on this is convertedii 56 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. almost completely into the inactive variety. the cause of the transformation did not yield any certain results. Attempts to determine W. D. H. The Nucleo-protein of Spleen.T. SATO (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1909 22 489-494).-The nucleo-protein was prepared by precipitating the hot-water extract of the organ with dilute acetic acid. The amount of iron in various preparations varied between 0.15 and 0.80%. The metal appears to be contained in the nucleoprotein in two forms namely in a labile form the part corresponding with which is remov- able from the substance by treatment with sodium carbonate and a more stable form. S. B. S. Chemico-physical Investigations on the Crystalline Lens. XI. Imbibition of the Lens in Water at Different Tempera- tures and in Acids and Alkalis. FILIPPO BOTTAZZI and No6 SCALINCI (Atti R. Accad. Lincei 1909 [v] 18 ii 32’7-339. Compare Abstr. 1909 ii 502).-The velocity and total amount of imbibition of the crystalline lens in water are greater a t high than at low tempera- tures.Imbibition in dilute solutions of an acid or an alkali increases with the concentration of the solution. I n solutions of various acids and of sodium hydroxide imbibition increases in the following order acetic acid sulphuric acid water hydrochloric acid and sodium hydr- oxide. Since in the concentrations employed these acids are completely dissociated the sulphuric and acetic anions must exert a specific depressing influence on the imbibition in opposition to the action of the hydrogen ions which increase the imbibition. X similar relation probably holds with solutions of different bases the accelerating influence of the hydroxyl ions on the imbibition being modified to varying extents according to the nature and valency of the cation.When immersed in the acid solutions employed the lens becomes opaque probably owing to the precipitation of the faco-protein which in its natural state is an electro-negative colloid by the hydrogen ions. This action is more marked with sulphuric and acetic acids than with hydrochloric acid which seems to be capable of transforming the alkaline faco-protein rapidly into acid. C hemico-ph ysical Investigations on the Crystalline Lens. G. QUAGLIARIELLO ( A t t i R. Accad. Lincsi 1909 [v] 18 ii 350-383). -The author has studied the influence of hydrochloric acid on the coagulation of the crystalline lens by the method previously employed with sodium hydroxide (Abstr. 1909 ii 1036). The curve cf the vslocity of coagulation in presence of hydrochloric acid is essentially similar to that obtained with sodium hydroxide the variation in the velocity gradually diminishing as the amount of acid is increased; in this case however the final value of the velocity differs far less from the initial value than is the case when sodium hydroxide is present. Whilst the latter up to a certain concentra- tion first increases and then sensibly diminishes the velocity of coagulation hydrochloric acid produces a continuous increase.The results indicate that the influence of chemical agents on the T. N. P.PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY ii. 57 velocity of coagulation of the crystalline lens is a function of the superficial area of the lens. Chemical Investigation of Teeth. 11. TH. GASSMANN (Zeitsch. physiol.Chem. 1909 63 397-400. Compare Abstr. 1908 ii 609). -Teeth from prehistoric men (at least 2000 years old) were found to be well preserved. They contain 3% more organic substance than recent teeth and less magnesium and phosphoric acid. The percentage of calcium sodium potassium chlorine and carbon dioxide is the same as in recent teeth. W. D. H. T. H. P. Inorganic Constituents of Two Egyptian Mummies. PAUL HAAS (Chem. News 1909 100 296).-The constituents of the ash were as follows Mummy A 4’83 1-21 0’24 0’156 0.134 2-64 1.91 1.57 0 22 - percent. Mummy B 0.90 0.77 9-03 0.27 0.90 traces 2.99 0‘42 1’89 5.80 A hot-water extract of (‘A’’ had an acid reaction and the same material yielded to ether 9% of extract which was acid and soluble in potassium hydroxide solution.No arsenic antimony or mercury was present. The high percentage of lime in the ash from “ A ” may indicate that quicklime was added t o the coffin in which the body was placed. Material ‘‘ B,” unlike ‘‘ A,” was moist and lost 16% of its weight when dried at looo but the dry material rapidly increased in weight on exposure to air. The ether extract amounted t o 3.5%. I n this case the embalming material may have been “ natron,” or “ nitrum,” a mixture of sodium chloride sulphate and carbonate. Alumina has not been recorded previously as a constituent of mummy ash. T . A H CaO. K20. Na,O. Fe,O,. A1,0,. CO,. SO,. P,O,. C1. SiO,. Presence of an Anzeroxydase a n d Catalase in Milk. J. SARTHOU (Compt. rend. 1909 149 809-810.” Compare Bordas Abstr. 1909 ii 505).-The filtrate from milk curdled at 30’ gives a very distinct reaction with p-phenylenediamine but not with guaiacol or hydrogen peroxide.By treating the residue on the filter with water a liquid is obtained which gives distinct colorations with p-phenylene- diamine and guaiacol in presence of oxygen. The casein after having been freed from the ansroxydase by washing reacts with p-phenylene- diamine and hydrogen peroxide but not with guaiacol. The conclusions drawn are that milk contains a soluble aasr- oxydase as well as an insoluble catalase and that the excessive sensitiveness of p-phenylenediamine t o oxidation should be recognised Anzeroxydase and Catalase in Milk. FRED. BORDAS and TOUPLAIN (Compt. rend. 19c19 149 101 1-1012. Compare Abstr. 1909 ii 505).-The author considers the experiments of Sarthou (preceding abstract) indecisive since the colorations obtained were due to the presence of casein which is always present in milk filtered * and.J.Pharm. Chim 1910 [viiJ 1 20-23 in the study of oxidirsing ferments. w. 0. w.ii. 58 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. through paper. When fresh or curdled milk is passed through the Chamberland filter the filtrate gives no coloration with Storch’s reagent. There is no evidence therefore of the presence of a soluble Can the Radium Emanations taken up by Drinking be Detected in the Urine? WALTHER LAQUER (Chem. Zentr. 1909 ii 854; from Zeitsch. expt. Path. TAW. 1909 6 868-878).-Ey the method employed emanations of less than 20,000 units cannot be detected in urine. The quantity of emanation in urine increases with the quantity in the water drunk.All the values found must be multiplied by 2. The urine voided in the first half hour contains only three-quarters to four-fifths of the total excreted in the urine. The ratio of the quantity of emanation excreted t o that ingested is about 1 4000. anseroxydase or insoluble catalase in cows’ milk. w. 0. w. S. B. S. The Origin of Ethereal Sulphates in the Organism. T. SATO (Zeitsch. physiol. Chem. 1909 63 378-396).-Rabbits were treated with phenol added to their diet (cabbage) and certain sulphur com- pounds also added. The nitrogen and sulphur (in various combina- tions) were estimated in the uriue. Isethionic acid only slightly raises the output of ethereal sulphatep and has no effect on nitrogen.It appears to be rapidly excreted. Cystine raises the total sulphatep and the amount of ethereal sulphate is parallel to this. Albumose prepared from egg-albumin has no action. Sulphidal (a colloidal sulphur preparation) enormously increases both total and ethereal sulphate excretion. Thiocarbamide is largely excreted as such ; the effect on the excretion of sulphates is doubtful; the urine does not show the reactions of thiosulphuric acid. W. D. H. The Origin and Destiny of Cholesterol in the Animal Organism. VI. The Excretion of Cholesterol by the Cat. G. W. ELLIS and JOHN A. GARDNER (Proc. Roy. SOC. 1909 B 81 505-515. Compare Abstr. 1909 ii 595).-The tendency for the change of cholesterol of food to coprosterol in faeces appears to be greater in cats than in dogs.I n experiments with two cats on a diet of sheep’s brain coprosterol free from cholesterol was recovered ; on a meat diet the change was not complete ; on vegetable diet and on an artificial diet as free as possible from cholesterol or phytosterol no faecal coprosterol was found. A discussion of the part played by the cholesterols in the animal economy follows. G. S. W. The Biological Significance of Lecithin. IV. The Blood- Content of Phosphorus and Iron in Lipoid Form in Cases of Polycythaemia rubra megalosplenica. W. GLIKIN (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1909 22 461-463. Compare Abstr. 1909 ii 1038).-The lecithincontent was found to be about 5 grams per 1000 C.C. in cases of this disease as compared with 2 to 3 grams per 1000 as found by Abderhalden in the blood of mammals normally.The phosphorus and total iron were also large as compared with t h a t found in normal cases. s 6. s,PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEIMISTRY. ii. 59 The Detection of Phosphorus and Hypophosphorous Acids in Organs after Phosphorus Poisoning. 11. RrcHARD EHRENFELD and WILHELM KULKA (Zeitsch. physiol. Chem. 19Q9 63 315-322. Compare Abstr. 1909 ii 345).-Further investigations showed t h a t during putrefactive processes the phosphorus is in part rapidly converted into phosphorous and hypophosphorous acids but after this the change progresses but little. The experiments recorded further indicate that the normal phosphorised constituents of the body do not give rise to the acids mentioned. W. D. H. &Suprarenine (&Adrenaline). N. WATERMAN (Zeitsch. physiol.Chem. 1909 63 290-294).-Pr~vious work on the superior physio- logical activity of &adrenaline is confirmed ; so also is Abderhalden’s work on so-called adrenaline immunity. Administration of the d-compound increases the resistance of mice towards the I-variety. W. D. H. The Antagonism between Adrenaline and the Chlorides of the Alkaline Earths and of Potassium. THEODOR FRANKL (Pfliiger’s Archiu 1909 130 346-352).-The action of adrenaline in stimulat- ing sympathetic nerve-endings is antagonised by the chlorides mentioned in the title of which the strongest is barium chloride. Sodium chloride has no such action. W. D. H. Mode of Action of Nicotine and Curare determined by the Form of the Contraction Curve and the Method of Tempera- ture-coefficients. A. V. HILL (J. Physiol. 1909 39 361-373). -From a mathematical considersttion of the curves of contraction and relaxation of muscles under the influence of curare and nicotine at different temperatures the conclusion is drawn that there is a combination between the drug and some constituent of the muscle. Evidence is also adduced for the existence of two or more types of fibres (or contractions) in tlhe muscle selected for experiment the rectus abdominis of the frog. W. D. H. Relative Toxicity of Various Salts and Acids towards Paramoscium. LORANDE Loss WOODRUFF and HERBERT HORACE BUNZEL (Arner. J. PhgsioT. 1909 25 190-194).-The experiments with some exceptions indicate a marked parallelism between the order of toxicity of various cations and their ionic potential. The high migration velocity of hydrogen ions will explain their unexpectedly high toxicity. Specific affinities of the living cell for certain ions will explain other exceptiooal cases for instance the low toxicity of copper. W. D. H.