PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. Physiological Chemistry . i. 111 The Consumption of Oxygen in Sea Organisms when exposed to the Atmospheric Air. IVAN GJAJA (GZus. Amd. Xci. Belgrade 105 35-41).-Experiments with the sea-gastropod Trochus and the sea-urchin Echinocidccris show that both organisms are able to live a certain time when exposed to atmospheric air. The results were compared with the consumption of oxygen in some land-organisms (Helix nemoralis Rana esculenta). The amount of oxygen consumed was found to be respectively Trochus and Helix nemoralis 1.3 c.c. Echinocidaris 3.1 c.c. Rana esculenta 0.66-1.32 C.C. of oxygen per hour and per g. of dry organic substance. The experiments were made at approximately the same temperature. S. S. M. Physiology of Muscular Exercise. V.Oxygen Relation- ships in the Arterial Blood. H. E. HIMWICII and D. P. BARR ( J . Biol. C'hem. 1923 57 363-378).-During and after short periods of vigorous leg exercise (cf. A. 1923 i 623 624) there is a rise in the oxygen content oxygen capacity and oxygen saturation of arterial blood. The factors which cause this change are dis- cussed in detail and the conclusion is drawn that the increased diffusion of oxygen through the lungs is mainly responsible. With longer periods of exercise it is probable that there is it decrease in the oxygen content of arterial blood owing to the continued rise in the circulation rate. E. S. The Transport of Carbon Dioxide in the Blood of Marine Invertebrates. T. R. PARSONS and W. PARSONS (J. Gen. Physiol. 1923 6 153-1 66).-The blood of the lower marine invertebrates can take up no more carbon dioxide than can sea-water ; that of the higher forms can take up twice or three times as much. The form of the carbon dioxide dissociation curves obtained indicates that the haemocyanin in the blood of these animals plays a similar part in the carrying of carbon dioxide to that played by haemoglobin in the blood of vertebrates. Ether Anesthesia.11. Ansesthetic Concentration of Ether for Dogs. E. ROKZONI ( J . Biol. Chem. 1923 57 761-788).- Using the method of Shaffer and Ronzoni (this vol. ii 69) for the ether estimations it has been found that during ether anzsthesia the concentration of ether in arterial blood varies directly with thatt in alveolar air a,nd depends on the distribution coefficient between air and blood at body temperature.During the induction of anaesthesia and with a continued administration of a constant amount of ether the concentration in arterial is greater than in venous blood. This is probably due to the great solubility of ether in the depot fat. For the same reason the concentration is higher in venous blood during the elimination of the ether. An ether tension in alveolar air of 3 3 4 1 mm. produces respiratorg failure C. R. H.i. 112 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. in dogs when anaesthesia is induced rapidly; after several hours a tension of 27-34 mm. is sufficient. T. F. ZUCKER and M. GUTMAN (Proc. SOC. Exp. Biol. Med. 1922 20 133-136).- Estimations made on the fresh protein-free filtrate of human blood by Tisdall’s method gave 2-66 mg.of inorganic phosphorus in a total phosphorus content of 19.43 mg. Boiling for two hours caused the hydrolysis of 9.73 mg. of the remaining phosphorus in organic combination. CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. The Inorganic Phosphorus and Calcium in Maternal and Foetal Blood. A. F. HESS and M. MATZNER (Proc. SOC. Exp. Biol. Med. 1922 20 75-76).-Tests were made on the maternal blood before and forty-eight hours after parturition and on the cord blood of infants. The calcium did not vary significantly from the normal. The average inorganic phosphorus content for twenty- one infants was 3-71 mg.%; the mothers’ blood contained 2-89 mg.% when taken from one to two days after parturition. The maternal blood during pregnancy averaged 2-77 mg. o/o of inorganic phosphorus for twelve individuals. The normal inorganic phosphorus content of the blood of young infants is 4.5 mg.%.The estimations were made on the whole blood by Bell and Doisy’s method. E. S. Distribution of Phosphorus in the Blood. CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. Rickets in Relation to the Inorganic Phosphate and Calcium in Maternal and Foetal Blood. AL. H. HESS and M. J. M~TZNER (Amer. J . Diseases Children 1923 26 285-289).-The inorganic phosphorus of the new-born is generally lower than that of infants of one month of age or older. However even when the percentage was within rachitic range rickets was not evident. No relationship was found between the percentage of inorganic phosphorus in the blood of the new-born and the occurrence of rickets during the first year of life.CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. Calcium and Phosphorus in the Blood Plasma in Rickets and Tetany. J. H. HESS J. K. CALVIN C. C. WANG and A. FELCHER (Amer. J . Diseases Children 1923 26 271-279).- In moderate rickets the phosphorus or calcium or both may be moderately lowered ; in severe rickets the phosphorus is markedly reduced whilst the calcium may or may not be lowered. I n rickets complicated by tetany the calcium is reduced whilst the phosphorus may or may not be reduced. Changes in the Lipoid Content of the Blood and Lymph during Fat Absorption in the Dog. H. C. ECKSTEIN (Proc. SOC. Exp. Biol. Med. 1922 20 74-75).- The thoracic lymph of an eighteen-hour fasting dog was collected before and after the introduction of olive oil into the duodenum. The total fatty acids increased rapidly during fat absorption; the phosphatides remained unchanged.Phosphatides were not lsynthesised during the passage of the fat components through the intestinal wall. CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. Fat Transport in the Body.PHYSIOLOCIICAL CHEMISTRY. i. 113 Insulin and Glycolysis. G. S. EADIE J. J. R. R~ACLEOD and E. C. NOBLE (Amer. J. Yhpiol. 1923 65 462-476).-1nsulin added to defibrinated blood (dog and rabbit) in vitro or injected into the animals previously to drawing the blood does not accelerate the rate of glycolysis in the blood samples. In mixtures of blood muscle juice and phosphates insulin decidedly retarded glycolysis whereas Cohnheim’s extract of pancreas had no influence. The action of insulin is thought to be an extravascular or intracellular process.CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. Changes in the Permeability of Red Blood-corpuscles in Non-electrolytic Solutions. R. HOBER and A. MENMESHEIMER (PJEiiger’s Archiv 1923 198 564-570; from Chem. Zentr. 1923 iii 686).-Red blood-corpuscles washed with an isotonic solution show decreased absorption of “ vital colouring ” (“ vital farbender ”) basic dyes in comparison with corpuscles washed with isotonic sodium chloride solution of the same reaction. The difference is not observed with “ non-vital colouring ” acid dyes. Glycine has the same inhibitory effect on dye absorption as sugar. G. W. R. The Distribution of Chlorine in the Blood. L. CsriKr (Biochem. Z. 1923 142 360-369) .-The average chloride content of red blood-corpuscles is 60% of that of the plasma the extreme values found including both normal and pathological cases being 43% and 780/,.A similar difference is shown by defibrinated and hirudin blood. The chloride content of both native and hirudin serum after spontaneous coagulation is the same as that of the corresponding plasma but a marked alteration in the distribution of the chlorine occurs after defibrination on passing carbon dioxide and on previously administering large doses of sodium hydrogen carbonate. Corpuscles from defibrinated blood in contact with isotonic sodium sulphate or dextrose solutions lose chloride and after some hours the external solution contains more than the corpuscles (cf. also A 1922 i 1086). Does Dextrose in Blood Undergo Modification by other Blood Constituents before Oxidation in the Tissues? T.BUDINGEN (2. Klin. Med. 1923 97 147-168; from Chem. Zentr. 1923 iii 634).-The combustion of dextrose is facilitated by pre- liminary moistening with blood. It is supposed that by reaction of destrose with mineral salts in blood “ dextrates ” are formed which are more readily combustible than the sugar itself. It is suggested that such dextrates occur in blood. Proteins and certain amino-acids such as tyrosine leucine glycine and aspartic acid also increase tlhe combustibility of dextrose. Iron compounds containing hydroxyl groups show a similar effect but iron and iron oxides are without effect. The rate of oxidation of sugar in blood is increased by the addition of certain salts whilst under pathological conditions the rate of oxidation may be diminished.The increase in the respiratory quotient after injection of dextrose is held to be due to the blood-sugar becoming more readily oxidised through reaction with the kations present. J. P. G W. R,i. 114 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. The Potassium Content of Human Serum. L. WILKINS and B. KRAMER (Arch. Intern. Ned. 1923 31 916-932).-Normal human serum contains 18-22 mg. of potassium per 100 C.C. Increases were observed only in nephritis (25-26 mg.) and in tetany (23-29 mg.). There was no apparent relation between an increased potassium and a decreased calcium content. The ingestion of 1.3 g. of potassium iodide three times daily for a long time did not increase the potassium content of the serum but after the ingestion of 2 10 and 15 g.of potassium chloride the potassium content of the serum was increased to 25,30 and 35 mg. respectively in about two hours with subsequent return to normal. CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. Mode of Occurrence of Proteins in Plasma and Serum. I. Are Serum Proteins combined with Alkalis’? R. MOND (PJEiiger’s Archiv 1923 199 187-193 ; from Chem. Zentr. 1923 iii 570).-In normally reacting blood only a very small proportion of the sodium present in the serum is combined with proteins which are principally present in forms other than salts. A minimal buffer effect occurs between the neutral point and the isoelectric point for globulins. The buffering ( ‘1 titration) curve is markedly sigmoid. G . W. R. The Organic Constituents of the Saliva. H. B. LEWIS and H. UPDEGRAFF (Proc.SOC. Exp. Biol. Med. 1922 20 168-169).- Human saliva contained approximately 30% as much uric acid as the blood; the values ranged from 0.6 to 2.9 mg. per 100 C.C. Benedict’s method applied to a filtrate obtained by a modified Folin and Wu precipitation method was used. The salivary glands were not readily permeable to dextrose. Cholesterol in Duodenal Contents. J. J. HERTZ and M. KAHN (Proc. Xoc. Exp. Biol. Med. 1922 20 167-168).-1n the fasting state the cholesterol in the duodenal contents of different individuals varied from 25 to 105 mg. in 10 C.C. Concentrated magnesium sulphate solution introduced into the duodenum caused a rapid increase in the cholesterol content indicating an outpouring of concentrated bile. Fat and Protein Absorption after Comprehensive Resec- tion of the Intestine.0. SCHTJMM and A. PAPENDIECK (2. p?hysiol. Chem. 1923 131 54-59).-After resection of 3.7 m. of the intestine about four-fifths of the fat consumed was excreted in the faxes which also contained about two-thirds of the nitrogen in the food. W. 0. K. Investigations on Iodine Metabolism. I. Experiments with Physiological Quantities of Iodine on Adults. T. VON FELLENBERG (Biochem. Z . 1923 142 246-262) .-Iodine taken in physiological quantities is excreted chiefly by the kidney but also in variable amounts in the fzces nasal excrement and in the sweat. Potassium bromide sodium fluoride and chloride and copious water drinking do not affect the excretion of iodine. A Turkish bath CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS.PHY SIOLOOICAL CHEMISTRY.i. 115 increases the iodine excretion by the skin but the total is not increased. Physical exercise and fevers increase the total excretion whilst during fasting and sleeping it diminishes. Iodine equilibrium is attained on a daily intake of about 14 micrograms (cf. Biochem. %. 1923 139 371). If the intake is increased a readily mobilised " actual'' reserve is built up which is distinguished from the potential reserve of the thyroids. The course of iodine metabolism is dependent to a certain extent on the nature of the iodine compound administered thus iodine fats are more readily absorbed than iodides. J. P. I. GJAJA and BRANDIMIR MALEB (Glus. Acad. Sci. Belgrade 105,l-34).-The ener- getic metabolism in mouse and rat was measured by the consumption of oxygen.The first series of experiments with mice a t constant temperatures showed that in the whole interval from 1.5" to 40" (the lethal temperature) the amount of oxygen consumed was almost constant from the beginning of the experiment. In a second series of experiments with mice and rats the temperature during the experiment was changed in order to examine the influence of various temperatures on the consumption of oxygen. The consumption of oxygen increases with decreasing temperature owing to the pro- duction of complementary heat in the organism to compensate loss by radiation. A third series of experiments on mice has shown that the temperature a t which the animal produces a complementary heat does not depend on the size of the animal but depends rather on its greater or lesser protection by fur the beginning of the pro- duction of a complementary heat being a t a higher temperature in the case of a badly protected animal.J. L. GAMBLE G . S. Ross and F. F. TISDALL (J. Biol. Chem. 1923,57,633-695).- The discussion which is developed in this paper is based on the con- ception that since the osmotic pressure and pH of the body-fluids are to a large extent dependent on the concentration in them of total fixed base the maintenance of an approximately constant value of the latter is the chief result of the processes of acid-base metabolism. During starvation the following causes contribute to an increased excretion of acidic radicles destruction of tissue protoplasm with the production of sulphuric and phosphoric acids reduction in the total volume of the body-fluids and the production of ketonic acids owing to the incomplete oxidation of fat.The first two processes also liberate fixed base which is available for the excretion of acidic radicles; in addition a certain quantity of calcium is derived from the calcium deposits of the body. The total amount of base available is however insufficient for the excretion of the acids produced by the above causes and two regulatory mechanisms come into play to adjust this and so maintain the concentration of total fixed base in the plasma and consequently in the other body- fluids. These are the excretion of urine of an acidity greater than that of the plasma and the production of ammonia in the kidney. Calculations made from estimations of the inorganic constituents Energetic Metabolism in Mouse and Rat.S. S. M. Metabolism of Fixed Base during Fasting.i. 116 ABSTRACCS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. of the plasma and urine of four epileptic children undergoing periods of fast approximately confirm these views which are discussed in great detail in the original. Estimation of the Alkali Retention in Growth. A. T. SHOHL (Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 1922 20 139-140).-The acids and bases in the food urine and faeces were estimated in terms of N solutions. The alkali retention expressed in C.C. of 0.1N solution per kg. of body-weight amounted to 11 C.C. in infants. Of the alkali retained 2 C.C. was required for protein increase 4 C.C. for the alkaline reserve and about 57 C.C. for the formation of bone.E. S. CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. The Physiology of Sleep. I. The Effects of Prolonged Sleeplessness on Man. N. KLEITMAN (Amer. J . Physiol. 1923 66 67-92).-Experimental insomnia in man (forty to one hundred and fifteen hours) produced no change in the blood-sugar alkaline reserve of the blood and plasma haemoglobin content or certain other factors. Increased excretion of phosphates and acids is apparently due to’ sleep. There is a greater excretion of chlorine in the day time ; the same is true in insomnia but there is a tendency to reversal in a subject who sleeps during the day. The excretion of total nitrogen and of creatinine shows little diurnal variation and is unaffected by either insomnia or reversed routine. CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. Composition of Herring Ova.111. Researches on Ova Using Micro-methods. H. STEUDEL and S. OSATO (2. physiol. Chem. 1923 131 60-64).-Micro-estimations show that there are in 100 herring ova 1.546 mg. of total N 0.0054 mg. of ammonia N 0.1054 mg. of urea N 0.0024 mg. of creatinine and an amount of a reducing substance corresponding with 0.2 mg. of dextrose. The total nitrogen is 13.59% of the weight of the dried eggs and this corresponds with the value 13.23% obtained by using micro- methods on larger quantities of eggs. The Composition of Herring Ova. IV. H. STEUDEL and E. TAKAHASHI (2. physiol. Chem. 1923 131 99-106).-1n the aqueous extract of herring ova the following substances have been isolated and identified guanidine adenine histidine arginine lysine and cystine. Colour reactions indicate the presence of small quantities of tyrosine tryptophan and of creatinine.The Composition of Herring Ova. V. The Monoamino- acids of the Skins of the Ova. S. OSATO (2. physiol. Chem. 1923 131 151-158).-The monoamino-acids of the skin of 38.7 g. of herring ova have been investigated using Fisclier’s ester method and the following constituents have been isolated alanine 0.1 g. ; valine 1.1 g. ; leucine 4-3 g. ; glutamic acid 0.16 g. ; proline 0.6 g. ; tyrosine 6.27% ; cystine 0.71 % tryptophan 2.02%. The last three have been estimated by the method of Folin and Looney (A. 1922 ii 539). W. 0. K. W. 0. K. W. 0. K.PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. i. 117 The Concentration of Various Anions and Kations in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum. J. B. PINCUS and B. KRAMER ( J .Biol. Chem. 1923 57 463-470).-Analyses have been made of the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of normal and pathological subjects. The results show that in the cerebrospinal fluid of a normal individual the concentration of inorganic phosphorus is considerably and of potassium somewhat smaller than in the serum ; chlorides on the other hand have a much higher concentration than in the serum whilst that of sodium and of hydrogen carbonate is the same in both fluids ; the concentration of calcium is 40-50% of that of the serum. The Donnan membrane equilibrium appears to be important in determining the relation between the concentration of the various constituents in the two body-fluids. P. V. PREWITT (Amer. J . Physiol. 1923,65 287-295).-The isolated dog liver perfused with defibrinated dog blood may increase or decrease in lipolytic activity under various conditions.The lipolytic activity of the liver was determined by extraction with water and testing the hydrolysing power of the extract on ethyl butyrate. The lipase content of the unperfiised liver is very much greater than that of the perfused organ the marked decrease in liver-tissue following the initial perfusion not being accounted for by the slight increase in the lipase of the perfusion fluid. The addition of secretin to the perfusion fluid results in an increased lipase content of the liver-tissue. Although hepatic lipase does not seem to be increased by the action of pilo- carpine interchange of lipase between liver and blood is apparently facilitated under its influence. The lipolytic activity of the liver is not altered immediately by asphyxia but changes are induced which are favourable to increased activity during subsequent perfusion.CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. E. S. Lipase Production by the Liver. The Physiology of the Polyamyloses. 11. Glycogen Form- ation and Animal Combustion. H. VON HOESSLIN and H. PRINGSHEIM (2. physiol. Chem. 1923 131 168-176).-Perfusion of the surviving liver of the guinea-pig with a solution of maltose or of tetra-amylose does not result in the formation of glycogen. No excretion of tetra-amylose takes place after administration of tetra-amylose to the living animal neither is there any increase of glycogen in the liver. A similar result is obtained with hexa-amylose. No increase of dextrose appeared in the urines of two diabetic patients after administration of 50 g.of tetra-amylose. W. 0. K. Chemical Study of Several Marine Molluscs of the Pacific Coast. The Liver. P. G. ALBRECHT (J. Biol. Chem. 1923 57 789-794) .-Analyses are presented of the liver of certain marine molluscs (abalone Pismo clam Cryptochiton Ischnochiton owl limpet). All had a relatively high iron content ; creatine creatinine and uric acid were absent ; urea was present in all except the abalone ; and all contained those enzymes which are known to be present in the alimentary canal. The last result supports the view that thei. 118 ABSTRACK'3 OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. enzymes have their origin in the liver. An active uricase was found in the abalone and €'ism0 clam. The Effect of Quinine on the Iodine Content of the Thyroid Gland.H. SVCIATA (Arner. J . Physiol. 1923 65 282-286).- Quinine sulphate administered to dogs (fasting or fed) in daily doses of 0.2 to 0.3 g. per kg. caused a considerable increase in the iodine content and concentration of the thyroid. High external temperature (35") also causes an increase in iodine whilst a decrease is produced by starvation. It is believed that endogenous protein metabolism is fundamentally responsible for the distribution of iodine in the body. CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. 0. MEYERHOF (PJliiger's Archiw 1923 199 531-566).-Experiments similar to those of Hopkins and Dixon (cf. A. 1923 i 167) were performed to investigate the oxygen uptake of systems consisting of a sulph- hydryl compound and muscle treated in various ways.The sulph-hydryl compounds employed were thioglycollic acid and cysteine. It was found that with a system of thioglycollic acid and the dried muscle powder prepared according to Hopkins and Dixon the uptake of oxygen might be twelve times the amount necessary to convert the sulph-hydryl compound to the corresponding disulphide. It was then found that after prolonged extraction with alcohol and ether the muscle powder lost its power of taking up oxygen this power being retained in a substance precipitated by acetone from the concentrated ethereal extracts. Next it was shown that a mixture of lecithin and thioglycollic acid reacted in the same way as the muscle powder and finally that of the constituents of lecithin linolenic acid alone possessed this property.It is therefore probable that linolenic acid is the heat stable substance of unspecified nature described by Hopkins and Dixon. All the above reactions proceed best in an acid solution (pH about 3) and may be entirely inhibited in neutral or alkaline solution; moreover the uptake of Qxygen ceases when the reaction for the -SH group disappears. The amount of oxygen taken up is about 5 C.C. per g. of dried muscle or in the case of linolenic acid two moIecules of oxygen to each molecule of acid; estimation of the iodine value before and after oxidation shows that only two of the double bonds have disappeared; these must therefore have been oxidised to a peroxide linking E. S. A New Autoxidisable System of the Cell. as is known to occur in the spontaneous oxidation of linolenic acid.A close analogy is drawn between the oxidation of lecithin in these experiments and that which takes place in the presence of iron. A consideration of the kinetics of the reaction and of the other experimental facts enumerated leads the author to suggest that the course of physiological oxidation by the agency of such substances as glutathione is not as generally accepted ZR-SH+O=PHYSIOLOaICAL CHEMISTRY. i. 119 RS*SR +H20 and RS-SR +H20 +M=BR*SH +MO (M being an R*SH-? oxidisable constituent of the muscle) but 2R*SH +O - I I 2- R*SH-0 +2M=2R*SH +2MO. R.SH.0 and According to this theory it is only the reduced form of such a substance as glutathione which actually takes part in this process of tissue oxidation. C. R. H. The Antagonism between Magnesium- and Calcium-ions.W. BAUMECKER (Biochem. Z. 1923 142 142-158).-Magnesium and calcium chlorides inhibit the imbibition of water by fibrin to the same extent whereas on muscle pulp the former in certain low concentrations causes an increased the latter a diminished imbibi- tion whilst mixtures of the two salts show a balanced antagonistic action. On the living isolated frog-muscle the narcotic action of magnesium is unaccompanied by imbibition until the narcosis has become irreversible. Calcium salts cause a marked loss of water. Unlike sodium salts calcium does not remove the reversible paralysis caused by magnesium. The antagonism between magnesium and calcium on the living muscle is therefore not brought about by their action in causing imbibition or loss of water but is effected through the myoneural junction.The narcotic action of magnesium on the end-plate is only observed in Ringer solutions containing calcium. It is conc$ded that magnesium replaces the calcium which is necessary for the proper functioning of the end-plates. Behaviour of Calcium Phosphate and Calcium Carbonate (Bone Salts) precipitated in various Media with Applications to Bone Formation. J. C. WATT (Biol. Bull. Marine Biol. Lab. 1923 4-4 280-308) .-Calcium phosphate when precipitated in water or in colloidal solutions is constantly granular and amorphous in character and is apparently uninfluenced by the nature of the solution. On the other hand calcium carbonate when precipitated in water shows a great diversity of crystalline form; in colloidal solutions it exhibits two main forms irregular crystalline and spherical respectively.Mixtures obtained by simultaneous preci- pitation of both salts in the same solution admit of identification of each salt separately. The character of the spherules and crystals is influenced by the presence of normal or pathological constituents of blood especially lecithin and acetone and by the hydrogen-ion concentration of the colloidal solution. Large spherules after persisting for months may undergo structural change finally dissolving ; the substance is then deposited in the crystalline form. The mechanism of the formation of bone in animals is discussed. CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. J. P. A Method of Micro-incineration Applicable to Histochemical Researches.A. POLICARD (Bull. SOC. chim. 1923 33 [iv] 1551-1558).-The author has devised a method of studying the distribution of mineral salts in histological sections. The sectioni. 120 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. is placed on a platinum slide carefully dried then raised to a dull red heat for twelve to fifteen minutes. A very slow current of air facilitates the burning off of the organic matter and is stated to be preferable to oxygen for that purpose. Glass is inadmissible for the slide material as it softens a t the temperature required for the operation. Unglazed porcelain may be used. The ash result- ing from the incineration forms a " mineral plan '' of the section dealt with. This is examined microscopically by reflected light and it is stated that this examination clearly shows the djstri- bution and relative quant,ities of mineral matter.The presence and distribution of iron in particular is readily studied by the intensity of coloration of the ash by the ferric oxide resulting from the combustion. H. J. E. Asteriasterol-a New Sterol from the Starfish and the Sterols of certain other Marine Echinoderms. I. H. PAGE ( J . Biol. Chem. 1923 57 471476).-A sterol m. p. about 70° to which the name asteriasterol is given has been isolated from Asterim forbesi. It forms an acetate m. p. 97" and a benzoate m. p. 125". The colour reactions which it gives with various sterol reagents a,re described. The sterols present in Echinarachnius parmu and Arbacia punctula.ta are identical and those in Cumingia tellinoides Choetopterus pergamentaceous and Arenicola cristatu probably identical with cholesterol. Oxycholesterol gives an immediate deep violet coloration with arsenious chloride which changes to bright blue on gently heating and to bright green on vigorously boiling E.FORRAI (Bio- chem. Z. 1923 142 282-290).-The possibility has been investig- ated of the presence of glycerophosphatase in various dried human organs examined soon after death. The observations of Grosser and Husler (A. 1912 ii 367) were confirmed and in addition the enzyme was found in the adrenals thyroids testes and in carcinomas. Amyloid kidneys contained less and in a case of eclampsia muscle contained more than the normal organs. None of the organs in which the enzyme was found is of mesodermal origin.It is supposed that the enzyme originates in the epithelial layers. J. P. The Distribution of Calcium and Inorganic Phosphorus in Milk. P. GYORGY (Biochem. Z . 1923 142 l-lo).-That portion of the calcium and inorganic phosphate of human milk and of cow's milk which is indsusible (50-60% in the former and 3 0 4 0 % in the latter) diminishes with increasing hydrogen- ion concentration and at the isoelectric point of casein all the calcium and phosphate of the milk is dialysable. During the tryptic digestion of milk a t constant pE the diffusible calcium and phosphate increases and similar results were obtained on a casein solution to which calcium chloride and a phosphate mixture had been added. It is concluded that the non-diffusible calcium phosphate of milk is combined with the casein in the form of a E.S. Glycerophosphatase in Humw Organs.PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. i. 121 complex double compound and not simply adsorbed by the pro- tein (cf. Van Slyke and Bosworth J. Biol. Chem. 1914 14; 1915 Copper as a Constituent in Woman’s and Cow’s Milk. Its Absorption and Excretion by the Infant. A. F. HESS G. C. SUPPLEE and B. BELLIS (J. Biol. Chem. 1923 57 725-729). -Raw cow’s milk contains 0.55 mg. of copper per litre and com- mercially pasteurised milk 0-6-0.7 mg. per litre. Analyses of two specimens of human milk gave values of 0.4 and 0.61 mg. per litre respectively. The constant presence of copper in the urine of both infants and adults indicates that it is absorbed from the alimentary canal. E. S. Urinary Acidity. 11.The Increased Acidity produced by Eating Prunes and Cranberries. N. R. BLATHERWICK and M. L. LONG ( J . Biol. Chem. 1923 57 815418).-The increased acidity of the urine which is produced by eating prunes or cran- berries (A. 1914 i 627) is due to the excretion of hippuric acid. The benzoic acid present in the fruit appears to be insufficient to account for all the hippuric acid excreted which must therefore be derived from some other source. VI. The Influence of the Protein of the Diet on the Synthesis and Rate of Elimination of Hippuric Acid after the Administra- tion of Benzoates. W. H. GRIFFITIE and H. B. LEWIS ( J . Biol. Chem. 1923 57 697-707; cf. A. 1923 i 1261).-The rate of synthesis of hippuric acid by rabbits following the administration of sodium benzoate is increased when the hydrolytic products of proteins containing glycine are administered simultaneously with the benzoate but not when the proteins do not contain this amino- acid.It is therefore improbable that any readily available pre- cursors of glycine are produced during the ordinary metabolism of proteins. E. S. Allantoin. I. The Influence of Amino-acids on the Excre- tion of Allantoin by the Rabbit. A. A. CHRISTMAN and H. B . LEWIS ( J . Biol. Chem. 1923 57 379-395).-The excretion of allantoin by rabbits was decreased markedly by the administration of amino-acids (glycine alanine glutamic acid) or urea and to a smaller degree by gelatin. J. M. LOONEY H. BERGLUND and R. C. GRAVES ( J . Biol. Chem. 1923 57 515-531).-Using recent methods of estimation the authors have examined several cases of cystinuris and have confirmed older work.The total amount of cystine excreted is composed of two fractions a small and constant amount derived from endogenous metabolism and a larger fraction which is proportional to the protein intake. An increased excretion of cystine is not accompanied by an increased elimination of other amino-acids. In the absence of the admini- stration of sodium hydrogen carbonate or of atophan practically 20; 1916 24). J. P. E. S. Synthesis of Hippuric Acid in the Animal Organism. E. S. Several Cases of Cystinuria.1. 122 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. the whole of the neutral sulphur in the urine is due to cystine; the administration of sodium hydrogen carbonate however de- creases the excretion of cystine and disturbs the distribution of the neutral sulphur.E. S. The Proteic Acids of the Urine. 111. Oxyproteic Acid. S. EDLBACHER (2. physiol. Chem. 1923 131 177-178; cf. 2. physiol. Chem. 1922 120 71 ; 127 186).-The so-called " oxy- proteic acid" of urine appears to consist essentially of urea con- taminated with some impurities as it is decomposed by urease with the formation of ammonia and gives the characteristic crystalline compound with Naphthol Yellow-S (dinitronaphthol- sulphonic acid). These results agree with those of Freund and Sittenberger-Kraft (A. 1923 i 511). Fat Metabolism in Avitaminosis. 11. The Total Fat Neutral Fat Cholesterol and Cholesterol Ester in the Blood of Normal Starving Avitaminosed and Phosphorus Poisoned Rats. K. ASADA (Biochem.Z . 1923 142 44-52).- The total and neutral fat cholesterol and cholesterol ester have been determined in the blood of normal starving and avitaminosed rats with and without simultaneous phosphorus poisoning. The blood-fat is highest in the avitaminosed rat and least in the starved rat. After phosphorus poisoning the total blood-fat in the normally fed animal is unchanged in starvation it is increased to approxim- ately the normal level and in avitaminosis associated with phos- phorus administrat'ion it is markedly increased but later sinks to sub-normal values. The variations in the amounts of cholesterol and of the ester are parallel to the changes in total fat under the three conditions of experiment. After poisoning with phosphorus the ester especially is increased this being most marked in the early stages of avitaminosis.Fat Metabolism in Avitaminosis. 111. The Fat and Chole- sterol Content of the Liver after Phosphorus Poisoning in Normal Starved and Avitaminosed Rats. K. ASADA (Bio- chem. Z . 1923 142 165--180).-1n avitaminosed rats the total and neutral fat of the liver diminishes but after prolonged vitamin- free feeding it again rises still keeping within sub-normal limits. The liver cholesterol progressively decreases and does not run parallel to the altered fat content. In the starved animals the diminution of liver fat is marked whilst the cholesterol is increased. After phosphorus poisoning which greatly lowers the liver-fat and cholesterol of the starved animal the liver of the avitaminosed animal is but slightly less rich in fat and cholesterol than that of the normally fed but poisoned rat but both show a much greater fat content than do the similarly treated but non-poisoned animals.I n advanced avitaminosis the phosphorus poisoned liver which is practically free from glycogen contains more fat than the normal poisoned liver. Starved and avitaminosed rats are much more susceptible to death from phosphorus poisoning than are normally fed animals. The water content of avitaminosed livers first in- W. 0. K. J. P.i. 123 PHPQOLO(X1CAL CHEMISTRY. creases then diminishes in relation to normal conditions. After phosphorus poisoning it is increased in the starved rat lessened in avitaminosis and unchanged in the normal rat. The Content of Copper and Zinc in Normal and Car- cinomatous Tissues.H. J. TAVERNE (Nederl. Tijdschr. Genees- hnde 1923 67 i 2810-2812; from Chem. Zentr. iii 946).-In a mammary carcinoma normal tissue contained 0.94 mg. of copper and 3-74 mg. zinc per kg. whilst the cancerous matmerial contained 0.54 mg. of copper and 3.65 mg. of zinc per kg. Effect of Treatment with Insulin on the Hydrogen-ion Concentration and Alkali Reserve of the Blood in Diabetic Acidosis. G. E. CULLEN and L. JONAS ( J . Biol. Chem.? 1923 57 541-552) .-The treatment of diabetic patient's with insulin causes the alkali reserve and the pH of the plasma both of which are lowered to return concurrently to the normal. [Physiological] Action of Acetylene. 111. The Gases of the Blood of Rabbits during the Administration of Acetylene. R.SCHOEN and G. SLIWKA (2. physiol. Chem. 1923 131 131- 145; cf. A. 1923 i 727).-During inhalation of a constant mixture of acetylene and oxygen the acetylene content of the arterial and venous blood of rabbits gradually increases and saturation is reached after seventeen minutes 88 yo saturation being reached after five minutes. The presence of acetylene in the air breathed does not influence the oxygen content of the arterial blood but the carbon dioxide content constantly decreases. After ceasing the administration of the acetylene increased breathing occurs and acetylene is rapidly expired. W. 0. K. [Physiological] Action of Acetylene. IV. Critical Remarks on the Action of Acetylene. H. WIELAND (2. physiol. Chem. 1923 131 146-150).-The author has suggested (A. 1922 i 497) that ethylene and nitrous oxide differ from other inhalation anaes- thetics such as chloroform and ether as they have no effect on anoxybiotic processes and now replies to criticisms of this vjew by Bart (Verh. Deutsch. pha.rrnako1. Ges. 1922 2 7) and by Meyer and Hopff (A. 1923 i 632). W. 0. K. K. k4KOVI6 (Glm. Acad. Sci. Belgrade 105 4244).-Injections of a solution of guanidine in the frog causes the same symptoms of tetany its was observed by Paton and Findlay with rabbits mice and rats. J. P. G. W. R. E. S. The Influence of Guanidine on the Frog. S. S. M. Behaviour of Quinoline in the Animal Organism. B. SCHEUNEMANX (Arch. expt. Path. Pharm. 1923 100 51-60).- The three quinoline derivatives observed by Fuhner (A. 1906 ii 692) to occur in the urine after administration of quinoline have been studied in the urine of the rabbit after oral administration of 20 g. of quinoline tartrate. Two of them have been identified as 8-hydroxyquinoline and 6-hydroxyquinoline ; the third one is probably 6-hydroxy-4quinolone. C. R. H.