118 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMIOAL PAPERS. P h y s i o 1 o gi c a1 C h em i s tlr y. Respiratory Metabolism. By WILHELM FKLEHKE and H. KIONKA (P$iiger’s Archiv, 1895, 92, 201 -248).-Geppert and Zuntz (ibid., 42, 189) have shown that during muscular work, in spite of the in- creased respiratory exchange, the blood gases remain practically unaltered. They consider that this constancy is regulated by nervous action, and one of the questions investigated in the present research is the discovery of the nerve channels, and the results of dividing them. Rabbits and dogs were used; muscles were thrown into tetanus by electrical stimulation, and the expired air and blood gases analysed by Znntz’s methods. Observations are also recorded on body weight and temperature. The result of cutting the nerves of the tetanised muscles is that mu,scular work causes a fall in the amount of oxygen in the aortic blood; there is also a small diminution in the amount of carbonic anhydride.But when the vagi are also divided, there is a marked rise in the latter gas, and a fall in the amount of oxygen; the vagi are supposed to be the chief nervous channels in question, experi- ments leading to the conclusions that it is on tohe vagal terminations in the lungs that the venous blood specially acts, and thus secondarily on the respiratory centre, and further that the diminution of oxygen is a more important factor in exciting dgspnoeic fiymptoms than i n - crease of carbonic anhydride. On the other hand, i t appears to be the increase of carbonic anhydride in the muscular substance which excites the sensory nerves of muscle, and so reflexly influences the respiratory mechanism.The question of dyspnma due to work is discussed at length ; other subjects treated are Cheyne-Stokes respirations, and the very similar periodicity of respiratory activity occurring in morphine poisoning. The blood gases and respiratory activity appear to bear no constant relationship to each other ; thus the animal may breathe when the arterial blood has much oxygen and little carbonic anhydride, and the pauses may occur when the opposite condition of the blood gases is present. Fatigue of the respiratory centre is also dismissed as an explanation of the phenomena ; the real explanation is left an unsettled problem. W. D. H. Action of Salts on the Gastric Digestion of Fibrin, and ofAcids on the Saline Digestion of Fibrin.By A. DASTRE (Compt. rend. Soc. Biol., 1894, 7i8-779 ; compare Abstr., 1895, ii, 300).-The proteo- lytic action of acidified pepsin is prevented by concentrated salts like sodium or ammonium chloride : the proteolytic action of concentrated saline solutions is prevented by acidification. W. D. H.PHY SIOLOQICAL CHEMISTRY. 119 Oxidising Power of the Blood. By J. E. AHELOUS and G. BIARNES (Compt. rend. A ~ O C . BWZ., 1894, 536-538, 799-801) .-Sali- cylaldehyde is not oxidised to salicylic acid by the air, or by dist,illed water, or physiological saline solution a t 37". The acid is, however, formed when defibrinated blood or serum is added at this temperature, although this does not occur at the temperature of the air.The amount of oxidation varies with the blood of different animals, and is attributed to a specific ferment, which is destroyed by boil- ing. Certain organs (testis, thyroid, adrenals, thymus, kidney, liver, lung, and spleen) possess the same power, which is lost when vitality is destroyed ; it is not shown by muscles, brain, or pancreas. W. D. H. Action of Blood-serum on Glycogen and on Maltose. By ~ B ~ J L E E. BOL'RQUELOT and EUG~NE GLEY (Compt. rend. Soc. Biol., 1895, 247-250) .-Blood serum has a saccharifying action on glyco- gen, the action being more energetic than that of saliva ; the sugar formed is not, however, maltose but dextrose. W. D. H. Formation of Glycogen in the Animal Organism, By MAURICE KAUFMAKN (Compt. rend.Soc. BioZ., 1895, 277--280), and by A. DASTRE (ibid., 280--283).-The first paper discusses the origin of glycogen : the author believes that in man and the higher animals, it originates solely in the liver, and that the glycogen in the blood and ekewhere is derived from the liver, and not formed i n the cells where it can be detected. The second paper discusses the same question with the opposite conclusion, maintaining the doctrine tbat glycogen is fixed, not cir- d a t i n g . W. D. H. Glycogen in Lymph. By A. DASTRE (Conipt. rend. SOC. Biol., 1895, 242-247).-Lymph contains 0.097 part of glycogen per 1000. After 24 hours, it is destroyed in the lymph by a diastatic ferment. Glycogen is present in the cells, but not, in the plasma. W. D. H. Thyreo-antitoxin.By SIGMUND FRANKEL ( Wieney wed. Blatter, 1895, No. 48).-After removal of proteid and gelatinous matter from thyroid extract, the physiological substance which possesses curative powers remains unprecipitated, and so far as experiments have gone as yet, is identical with a substance of the formula C6HllN305, called provisionally, thyreo-antitozin, which can be crystallised out by con- .centration ; it is very hygroscopic. It produces rapidity of pulse, but no fall of blood pressure, and when administered to animals deprived of their thyroids it delays the onset of death, and abolishes the nervous symptoms ; it does not, however, prevent death. W. D. H. Uropo'ietie Diastase. By CH. RICHET (Compt. rend. SOC. BioZ., 1894, 525-528) .-The alcoholic precipitate of extract of liver con tains two ferments, the activity of which is destroyed by boilinfl; when added t o liver extracts, the changes produced are a diminution of glycogen, and an increase of urea.W. D. H. 10-2120 ABSTRACTS OF CEEMICAL PAPERS. Composition of the Milk of Various Animals. By Anc;usro PIZZI (Stuz. Sper. Agrar., 1894, 26, 615-639).-The volatile, fatty acids of milk from various sources, and the points of fusion and solidification of the butter were determined with the following results. Wollny 31. p. of Solidification number. butter. of butter. Woman ........ 1.42 32.0" 22.5' Goat,.. ........ 28.60 36.5 31.0 Sheep .......... 32.89 29.0 12.0 Buffalo. ........ 28-18 38.0 29.0 Sow ........... 1.65 28-0 12.0 The Wollny numbers are also given foi. the following butters: Mare's, 11.22 ; ass, 13.09 ; rabbit, 16.06 ; bitch, 1.21 ; cat, 4-40 ; and rat, 2.97.The odour, colour, and taste, &c., of the butter are described. The following percentage results were obtained with the milk of (I) sheep, (2) goats from the Appenines, (3) buffalos, and (4) rabbits. Sp. gr. Albumin at 15'. Water. Fat. and case'in. Lactose. Ash. 1. 1.0413 80.425 9.66 4.44 4.37 1.10 2. 1.0326 86-73 5-35 3-64 3.60 0.66 3. 1.0332 82.20 '7.95 4.13 4-75 0.97 4. 1.0493 69.50 10.45 15.54 1.95 2-56 Determinations of volatile fatty acids in the colostrum obtaineti from cows a t successke periods, showed increased amounts as the conversion into normal milk proceeds. Sterilisation of Milk and the Lactic Fermentation. By PALL CAZENEUVE (BzcZZ. SOC. Chim., 1895, [3], 13, 502-509).-The milk i q sterilised by heating it in boiling water in screw-stoppered bottles, which are capsuled with tin, and completely immersed in the water, the air escaping t'hrough capillary orifices in the capsules subsequently closed by compression.As the bottles cool, the capsules and necks are coated with solid paraffin to eliminate all possibility of t h e entrance of air. Of the various samples of milk subjected to this treatment, some fresh, some about to turn sour, and some actually putrescent, none underwent further change-even when kept for days a t 35'. The lactic ferment seems to be attenuated and, to a large extent, de- stroyed by the process, for the sterilised samples remained for the most part unchanged after the admission of sterilised air, and did not give rise to colonies when sown in a gelatin medium.Milk thus treated is stated to be more digestible than new milk, and has not the objectionable colour or taste of milk boiled in an open vessel, or that sterilised at higher temperatures. The process. has been tried on the commercial scale. JN. W. N. H. J. 31. Protei'da of Normal Urhe. By ~ R L A. H. &roRNEB (Skand, drchiv PhysioZ., 1895, 332--437).-Although hcalthy human urine f o rVEGETABLE PHY SIOLOOY AND AGRICULTURE. 121 pvactical purposes contains no prote'id, yet there is prote'id matter present in extremely small quantities. For the purpose of ascertain- ing its nature, each experiment required many litres, often $0 or 90 litres of urine. This prote'id or proteyd-like material is contained partly in suspension in the ordinary mucous cloud or nubecula, and partly in solution.The research naturally, therefore, divides itself into two parts. The conclusions drawn in reference to the nubeculn are the following. The sediment of normal urine contains a specific member of the mucin group, named zriine-rnucoid, which probably originates from the mucous membrane of the urinary passages. It has the percentage cornposit.ion: C, 49.4, N, 12.74, S, 2.3, and is readily soluble in am- monia. From its solutions, i t is precipitable by acetic and other acids, find is only slightly soluble in excess of the acid. Its solution is lcevorotatory (a, = -62--67'), and it reduces alkaline copper solution slightly ; after boiling with hydrochloric acid, however, it is strongly reducing.It gives the prote'id colour-reactions. With a-naphthol and concentrated mlphuric acid, it gives no carbohydrate reactions. I t contains neither phosphorus (nucleic acid) nor conjugated sulphuric acid (chondroitin-sulphuric acid). I n many particulars it agrees with the ovomucoid of eggs. The soluble pi-ote'id in urine is chiefly serum-albumin ; bat some is precipitabh by acetic acid ; and this part consists of a nucleo-proteyd. Precipitated with the proteiid, chondroitin-sulphuric acid is constantly present; this is considered to originate in the kidneys where its presence has been previously shown. The relative amounts of albumin and this acid are variable; t h u s there is no compound between them. In some cases, taurocholic acid is present i n small quantities. W. D. H. Excretion of Creatinine during Regular Work on a Mixed Diet. By EDWIN ACKERMANN (Conzpt. rend. Soc BioE., 1894, 659- 660).-The experiments made on a man on a mixed diet, and doing regular work, show that, in the mean, the daily output of creatinine is 1-254 gram or 0.017 gram per kilo. of body weight. The amount is lessened by rest,. W. D. H. Resistance of Invertin to Heat. By Rouss~ (Compt. rend. SOC. Biol., 1895,400-402) .-The fever-producing property of invertin is not destroyed by temperatures between 100' and 150°, although it is lessened. The diastatic property of the same substance also is simply attenuated, and not completely destroyed by the same temperatures. W. D. H.