66 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Physiological Chemfstr y. Effects of Low Pressures on Respiration. ARTHUR BorcofV and JOHN S. HALDANE (J. Physiol. 19OS 37 355-377). Alveolar Air on Monte Rosa. R. OGIER WARD (ibid. 378-389). Effects of Want of Oxygen on Respiration. JOHN S. HALDANE and EDWARD P. POULTON (ibid. 390-407). -The experiments on the effect of low atmospheric pressure on respiration mere carried out on men partly on Monte Rosa and partly in a specially-constructed steel chamber. When the pressure is diminished the alveolar carboh dioxide pressure remains constant during short exposures. When the air pressure reaches 550 mm. or the alveolar oxygen pressure 62 mm. the alveolar carbon dioxide pressure fails and as the air pressures fall the fall in the carbon dioxide pressure occurs with increasing rapidity.In long exposures the fall in the carbon dioxide pressure occurs earlierPHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 67 and further ; the alveolar oxygen pressure is correspondingly higher ; the process is one of gradual adaptation to low pressures or great altitudes. The fall in alveolar carbon dioxide pressure is due to hyperpnaea dependent on the low oxygen pressure and is absent if oxygen is added to the air. The hyperpnoea is however not directly due to want of oxygen since it takes time to develop and may persist for days after the want of oxygen is removed. It is probably due to the gradual formation in consequence of insufficient oxygen of lactic acid or other substances which have the same influence as carbon dioxide on the respiratory centre so that less carbon dioxide is required to excite the centre. When the alveolar oxygen pressure falls to 30 mm.urgent symptoms are produced. Exposure to cold causes a slight rise and to heat a slight fall in the alveolar carbon dioxide pressure. If sufficient of the preformed carbon dioxide is first removed by forced breathing want of oxygen has no exciting influence on the centre and apnoea will be produced and does not cease until the alveolar carbon dioxide pressure rises to normal unless abnormal pro- ducts produced by want of oxygen reinforce the action of the carbon dioxide ; the development of these other products is however a gradual process. W. D. H. Experiments on the Gtrtseous Metabolism of Infants carried out by means of Zuntz and Oppenheimer’B Modiflca- tion of the Regnault-Reiset Respiration Apparatus.ARTHUR SCHLOSSMANN CARL OPPENHEIMER and HANS MURSCHHAUSER (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1908 14 385-406).-The experiments were carried out by means of the apparatus described by two of the authors (ibid. 361-368 369-384). I n the case of a healthy child (44-5 months old) sleeping for eight hours after feeding the oxygen utilised was 0.731 gram and the carbon dioxide excreted 0.931 gram per kilo. per hour. The respiratory quotient mas 0,911. These numbers were greater for the first three hours after the meal than for the later period. I n similar experiments when the child was awake for a part of the experimental period the oxygen consumed mas 0 853 gram and the carbon dioxide excreted 1.046 grama per kilo.per hour the respiratory quotient being 0*896. Experiments were also carried out on children during a period of fastjin pathological cases and results differing markedly from the above were obtained. S. B. S. Effeot of‘ Salt Solutions on the Heart and Respiration of the Skate. IDA H HYDE (Amer. J. Physiol. l908,23,201-213).-As a rule increase of heart-beat produced by various salts is accompanied by rise of blood-pressure and increase of respiratory activity. Am- monium chloride however increases blood-pressure without increasing cardiac force ; disodium hydrogen phosphate increases the force of the heart but not that of respiration,and urea increases cardiac and respira- tory activity without raising the blood-pressure. The aalts which are specially depressing are potassium chloride and magnesium sulphate.Many other details are added in relation t o concentration etc. of these tand other aalts W. D. H. 5-268 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Coagulation-time of Blood in Man. T. ADDIS (Quart. J. exp Physiol 1908 1 305-334).-Daily variations in the coagulation- time of the blood do not occur; the administration of citric acid or of calcium salts also makes no difference. The contrary result is due to errors in technique the influence of temperature having been dis- regarded in all previous measurements of coagulation-time. The coagulation-time is Rhortest between 36' and 40' ; at temperatures above and below this it increases. A new method is described in which temperature and other factors are kept constant ; the observation is made with a microscope and depends on the fact that when a current of oil streams along the side of a drop of blood a smooth flow of the corpuscles is induced.The movement stops suddenly when coagula- tion takes place. CARL I;. ALSBERG and E. D. CLARE (J. Biol. Chem. 1908 5 333-330).-The blood-clot is con- sidered to consist of the agglutinated cells of the blood only without admixture with any substance akin t o fibrin. The solubilities and the low sulphur and tyrosine contents are thought t o point to the protein present as being a member of the gelatin-elastin group. W. D. H. Blood-Clot of the King-crab. W. D. H. The Sugar in Blood. IV. The Method of Osmotic Com- pensation. LEONOR MICHAELIS and PETER RONA (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1908 14 476-4S3).-Experiments were carried out with the object of determining whether the sugar in blood exists free or combined in some form as a colloidal complex.For this purpose the total sugar was estimated polarimetrically after precipitating the proteins by colloidal ferric hydroxide. Portions of the blood were then dialysed against an isotonic salt solution (containing a small quantity of sodium fluoride) to which varying amounts of sugar had been added. After twenty- four hours the sugar was estimated in the dialysate. An increase in the latter after the dialysis would denote that the original liquid contained less sugar than the blood whereas a diminution would indicate that i t contained more. It was found that the amount of sugar in the dialysate did not alter after dialysis when it contained the same percentage of sugar as was found in the blood by the method described above; hence the sugar in the blood exists in a free state.S. B. S . The Total Sugar of the Blood. RAPHAEL L~PINE and BOULUD (Compt. rend. 1'308 147 1038-1031. Compare Abstr. 1908 ii 957).-The amount of sugar obtained from the blood-clot depends to a somewhat considerable extent on the duration of the hydrolysis by hydrofluoric acid for besides liberating the sugar the acid also slowly destroys it. The sugar obtainable from the clot is in any case a considerable portion of the total sugar of the blood. G. B. Diastases in the BIood and Body Fluids. ANTON J. CARLSON and A. B. LUCICHARDT (Amer. J. PhysioZ. 1908 23 148-164).-The diastases in blood and lymph are mere '' discards " of the tissues on the road t o destruction or elimination and serve no emential end inPIIYSLOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 69 the body processes.Their amount is not related to pancreatic activity to changes in the diet or to the rate of oxidation in the body. Such differences as are noticeable in different fluids or in the same fluid at different times appear to be of an accidental nature. W. D. H. The Maltase of the Blood-serum and Liver. CHOSABUR~ KUSUMOTO (Biochem. Zeitsch 1908 14 21 7-233).-This is a com- parative study of the action of the maltase of the blood and 'liver extract in different animals. The absolute and relative strength of the action varies considerably being greatest in the pig and least in the sheep of the animals examined so far as relates to the maltase of the blood but the liver extract is more powerful in the sheep than in the pig or dog.In the calf and horse the two ferments act about equally This varying action may depend on the amount of ferment present or on the presence of such inhibitory substances as anti-maltase. W. D. H. The Occurrence of Proteic Acids in Blood. J~ZEF BROWI~SKI .(Zeitsch. physiol. C h . 1908 58 134-146. Compare Abstr. 1908 ii 205).-The proteic acids described by Bondzynski in the urine of men and dogs are also present in blood; one litre of horse's serum contains 0.137 gram of oxyproteic acid. W. D. H. Cytolysis. ALONZO E. TAYLOR (J. Biol. Chem. 1908 5,311-314). -Injections of salmon sperm into rabbits renders the blood capable of causing cytolysis of the spermatozoa.The serum was inactive if the spermatozoa used were stale so also was the sera from animals inoculated with the lipoidal protamine or nucleic acid fractions obtained from the cells. W. D. H. Precipitin Reactions. W. A. ~CHMIDT (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1908 14 294-348).-1f dried serum is heated at l l O o it does not lose its power of reacting to precipitin; if heated at 130° this property is lessened and a t 150' almost entirely lost. If the serum is not-dried heating a t 70' for an hour does not destroy the property and the reaction may be obtained even after heating a t 909 These tem- peratures are higher than those given by previous observers. Passing from the precipitable substance to the precipitin this is not so thermostable; still heating at 7 5 O for several hours does not entirely destroy it and precipitin serum after heating at 70° is still capable OF producing immunisation.I f heated with alkali similar results are obtained. Various theoretical deductions from these experiments are discussed. W. D. H. Sensibilising Action of Animal Pigments. I. WALTHER HAUSMANN (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1908,14 275-278).-Vegetable extracts which contain chlorophyll act haemolytically on red corpuscles in the light but not in the dark. This is not a property confined to chloro- phyll but is also possessed by certain animal pigments and in the present paper bile pigment i s shown to possess it. This may play a70 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. part in diseases where pigmentary changes occur in parts exposed to light such as the skin.Haematoporphyrin acts in the same way both on red corpuscles and on other animal cells such as paramaecium. W. D. H. The Influence of Neutral Salts on Haemolysis. RUDOLF HOBER (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1908 14 209-2 16).-The action of weak hypotonic solutions of neutral salts of the alkalis is to cause discharge of the haemoglobin from the red corpuscles of the ox. The anions favour haemolysis in the following order SO4<C1<Br,NO3<I and the cations in the following Li,Na<Cs,Rb<K. The action probably depends on an action on the membrane increasing its permenbili ty. W. D. H. The Hamolysin of Human Pancreatic Juice. 11. JULIUS WOHLGEMUTH (Chern. Zentc. 1908 ii 1111 ; from Bed. Klin. Woch. 1908 45 1304-1305).-Inactive pancreatic juice in spite of its lipolytic properties does not contain haemolysin.On activating with enterokinase or calcium chloride or by keeping it acquires the property of dissolving red blood-corpuscles under certain conditions. The addition of lecithin also causes the juice to acquire hzemolytic properties although it is not thereby activated as regards trypsin. Tho kmolytic properties are possibly due to the setting free by the activated trypsin of lecithin from some protein lecithide complex. S. B. S. Effect of Diet on Saliva. CHARLES HUGH NEILSON and M. H. SCHEELE (J. Biol. Chein. 1908 5 331-338).-Saliva hydrolyses starch t o maltose and maltose to dextrose and so probably contains two enzymes. A carbohydrate diet increases both actions and a protein diet lessens both in the same proportion.These facts are considered to prove adaptation to diet. The experiments were con- ducted on men. W. D. €I. Assimilation of Formaldehyde and of Glycerol and Sugar. THOMAS BOKORNY (PfEiigev’s Archiv 1908 125 467-491).-1f as is believed carbon dioxide is changed into formaldehyde by the action of chlorophyll granules the condensation of the latter substance must occur with great rapidity for except in minimal amount it is very toxic to life and to the chlorophyll apparatus. On treatment with dilute formaldehyde starch formation is increased and this occurs in the dark and under the influence of light with equal rapidity. The energy of light is necessary in the formation of formaldehyde from carbon dioxide. Oxygen is not essential either for the assimilation of formaldehyde gyycerol or sugar.W. D. H. Metabolism of Glycine in Liver Affections. HERMANN JASTROWITZ ( A ~ c h . exp Path. Pharm. 1908 59 463-472).-1n normal persons the administration of 20 grams of glycine does not lead to its appearance in the urine but in those wit4 liver diseasePHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 71 and in dogs suffering from phosphorus poisoning if glycine is given a good deal escapes conversion into urea and passes into the urine W. D. H. Liebig’s Extract of Meat. R. ENGELAND (Zeitsch. Nab. Genussm. 1908 16 658-664).-The following bases were separated and identified in Liebig’s extract of meat the method employed being a modification in part of that described by Kutscher and Steudel creatinine neosine carnitine (Abstr. 1905 i 726) vitiatine ( A bstr.1907 ii 708) histidine methylguapidine and alanine. W. P. S. The Assimilation of Carnitine in the Animal Body. R. ENGELAND (Zeitsch. Nahr. Genussm. 1908 16 664-666),-1t is shown that carnitine when administered to dogs is entirely decom- posed and is probably converted into dimethylguanidine as this base was detected in the urine. I n the case of rabbits it appears that carnitiue is reduced during its passage through the body but the small quantity of base recovered from the urine did not allom of its identity being established with certainty. w. P. s. Hydrolytic Enzymes of Invertebrates. HERBERT E. ROAF (Bio-Chem. J. 1908 3 462-472).-Glycerol extracts of the di- gestive glands of various invertebrates (arthropods molluscs echino- derms) were employed or in some cases the alcohol precipitate from such extracts.Enzymes capable of hydrolysing starch and glycogen fats and proteins were found. The addition of these extracts to milk and oxalated blood-plasma caused coagulation Variations as to the preseme and activity of all these ferments occur and many results are stated quantitatively. I n relation to the proteo- clastic enzymes the Congo-red fibrin method of the author was mainly employed ; variations are noted in the reaction of the medium which gives the best results W. D. H. Is Choline Present in the Cerebro-spinal Fluid of Epileptics? S. KAJIURA (Quart. J. exp. Physiol. 1908 1 29 1-296).-Relying on Rosenheim’s periodide test which is both trustworthy and sensitive choline was not found in the cerebro-spinal fluid in cases OF epilepsy.The detection of a few fragments of aniso- tropic crystals by Donath’s micro-polariscopic test is not in itself suficient evidence of the presence of choline; treated in the same way with platinic chloride etc. the same result may be obtained with normal cerebro-spinal fluid or even with distilled water. W. D. H. Chemico-physical Investigations on the Crystalline Lens. 111. Imbibition of the Crystalline Lens in Water and in Water Vapour. FILIPPO BOTTAZZI and Noh SCALINCI (Atti R. Accad Lincei 1908 [v] 17 ii 445-454. Compare Abstr. 1908 ii 966 1054).-The penetration of water into the crystalline lens and the swelling and increase in weight of the latter is due to some extent to a process of imbibition and not as is usually supposed,72 ABSTRACTS OF CEEMICAL PAPER& solely to the osmotic pressure of the lens.As there is not an imbibition equilibrium between the lens and the water in which it is immersed the water penetrates the lens at first rapidly and subsequently more slowly. The lens tends towards a maximum of imbibition which is however only attained if the capsule is ruptured. Tn tbis imbibition there are two distinct periods in the first of which vfiter penetrates the lens and causes it to swell uniformly whilst in the second the water accumulates between the lens and the capsule. pxperiment shows that tbe percentage increase of weight of a lens from which the capsule has been removed is less than in the case of a lens which retains its capsule. When no capsule is present the lens increases rapidly in weight during about the first half-hour of ixpxpersion after which the increase is first checked for a time and then proceeds more gradually; this is due to the diffusion from the lens of the soluble facoprotein the loss thus caused being sufficient to compensate for a time the increase in weight due to imbibition When suspended in saturated water vapour at 3S0 the crystalline lens does not increase but gradually diminishes in weight a process of disimbibition taking place.From this point of view the crystalline lens may be regarded as a block of solid hydrogel since swollen gelatin behaves in the samB way when suspended in water vapour (compare Schroeder Abstr. 1903 ii,. 721). The amount of dis- imbibition of the lens in water vapour is for a definite time directly proportional to the initial weight of the lens whilst the increase in weight of a lens due to imbibition in water is inversely proportional t o that weight.The mechanism of the process of disimbibition i s esseqtially different from that of the process of imbibition. T. H. P. Effect of Stimulation of the Accelerator Nerve on the $aline Metabolism of the Isolated Heart. WILLIAM H. HOWELL and W. W. DUKE (Amer. J. Plysiol. 1908 23 174-179).-A com- paratively small supply of Locke’s fluid was continuously perfused through isolated cats’ hearts by the method described by Locke and Rosenheim. Neither the calcium nor the potassium in the guid showed any variatiop in amount after a perfusion lasting for hours and after long-continued excitation of tbe cardiac accelerator nerve.N o trace of hypaxant4iae mas discovered in the fluid although Burian describes this substance as being pontinuously formed in skeletal muscle asd inpreased in amount during its contraction. The difference may be due t o aq esswtial difference between the two kinds of rpuscle or to the presence of dextrose in Locke’s fluid. The heqrt however gives off creatinine (or creatine) to the circulating fluid. W. D. 4. Action of Barium Chloride on the Nprmal Heart and the Heart which has Undergone Fatty Degeneration. Rmmo DE NICOLA (Chem. Zentr. 1908 ii 961 ; from Arch. Farm. sperim. 1908 7 130-138).-Barium chloride is a myocardial poison with marked action on the muscle but influences little or not at all the heart movements of an organ which has undergone fatty degeneration and only causes death by exhaustion. S.B. $.PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 73 The Sugar Utilised in the Isolated Heart. MARIO C u m (C?lem. Zentr. 1908 ii 1194 ; from Zeitsch. ally. PlrySiol. 1908 8 371-404).-=-The relationship between the amount of work done by an isolated heart and the amount of sugar utilised from a Ringer- Locke solution was investigated. The apex of the heart (from rabbits cats and a fox) which was pcrfused in a Langendorff apparatus was weighted by different loads and from the number and size of the uontractions the amount of work performed was calculated. It was found in the case of the rabbit that for the same amount of mechanical work the larger was the amount of sugar utilised the greater the load attached to the heart.A direct proportionality between the lilugar utilised and the work of the heart; could not however be ascer- tained The hearts of cats and of foxes utilised no sugar under the same conditions of experiment. In these cases glycogen seems to disappear the fresh hearts of cafe and foxes containing more of this carbohydrate than was found in those organs which had been employed in the perfusion apparatus A similar difference was not found in the case of rabbits The conclusion was drawn that in herbivora the sourue of musoular energy is the sugar whioh is obtained directly from the food-stuff s or by degradation of other carbohydrates whereas in the case of carnivora the source is the glyoogen of the musules which has been prepared from the proteios of the food- stuffs.s. B s. Fate of Glyoerol in the Body FELIX REACH (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1908 14 279-285),-The liver was perfused with Ringer'g solution by a method similar to that used by Loch and Rosenheim in their investigations on the utilisation of sugar by the beating heart. It is shown that the liver has the power of synthetically forming aceto- acetic acid in small quantities from glycerol This is not in contra- diction to the antiketogenio action of glycerol. W. D. H P. C . ROMKEEI (Biochem Zeitsch. 1908 14 254-254).-The author claims to have proved by four distinct methods that the walls of liver cells are permeable to dextrose The mall of the nucleus on the other hand appears to be impermeable to dextrose. These facts have an important bearing on the reversible hydrolysis of glycogen to dextrose C,H,,O + H,O = C,H,,O,.J J. S. ALONZO E TAYLOR (J. Biol. Chem. 1908 5 315-318).-Flask experiments on the liver of the giant clam show a post-mortem conversion of its glycogen into sugar which is believed to be analogous to what occurs during the life of thg animal. The conversion is a function of two Variables and is proportional directly to them namely the masses ~f glypogen and of glycolytic ferment in the liver cells. The Animal Fats and the Extract by Light Petroleum from the Liver. YUTAKA NUKADA (Biachem. Zeitsch. 1908 14 419-429). -The content of animal fats in lower fatty acids was estimated by kydrolysing the fgts adding to t40 soaps just sufficient acid to Liver Cells and their Permeability to Sugar Conversion of Glycogen into Sugar by the Liver W.D. H.74 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. neutralise the alkali used and washing the separated fatty acids with water until the washings were no longer acid (“filtration method ”). The volatile acids in the washings were also estimated by distillation. The acetylation number was determined by similar processes. The acetylation numbers of the fats fatty acids and light petroleum extracts were determined. It was found that the fatty acids in the fats from adipose tissues which are soluble in water and volatile with steam amount to 0.4 to 0.7% of the total. These fats contain when fresh only small quantities of substances with a free hydroxyl group ; with the age of the fat however the number of these groups increases.On hydrolysis of the fats substances containing free hydroxyl groups are obtained amongst which are cholesterol and appreciable quantities of hydroxy-acids. Liver extracts contain cholesterol but not cholesterol esters ; hydroxy-acids also seem to be present. S. B. S. The Influence of Radium Emanations on Autolysis. SIMON LOWENTHAL and E. EDELSTEIN (Biochem Zeitsch. 1908,14,484-490). -Radium emanations appreciably increase the rate of autolysis of tissues especially in the expressed juices from certain carcinomatous growths. S. B. S. The Influence of Inorganic Colloids on Autolysis. V. M. ASCOLI and G . IZAR (Biochetm. Zeitsch. 1908 14 491-503).-1n the experiments colloidal silver prepared by Bredig’s method was employed. It was used in two forms ‘‘ stabilised ” by the addition of gelatin and ‘‘ non-stabilised.” Both forms increase the rate of autolysis of liver tissue whereas the former alone when in very small doses causes a rise of temperature when administered to animals.Both forms however when given in sufficient doses cause this rise of temperature the “stabilised ” to a greater extent than the “non- stabilised.” The addition of defibrinated blood inhibits the effect of the non-stabilised blood on liver autolysis but not that of the stabilised; serum on the other hand exerts the same effect on both forms of colloidal silver. The addition of sodium chloride inhibits the action of the non-stabilised colloid but not that of the stabilised. 8 B. S. The Preparation and Chemical Properties of the Xanthoma Substance with some Investigations of the Fat-like Doubly- refracting Substance in Large White Kidneys.J. PRIKGSHEIM (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1908 15 52-75).-The material for investigation of the xanthoma was obtained from the dura mater and the skin of a woman who suffered from chronic icterus with hypertrophic cirrhosis of. the liver. The material was extracted with alcohol and then with acetone and from the latter solvent crystals separated which after repeated recrystallisations from the same solvent melted at 67.5’. The dura mater material contained 14.2% of this substance. It was free from phosphorus and nitrogen and yielded on hydrolysis with sodium ethoxide in benzene solution a residue which on recrystal- lisation from alcohol melted at 144.5’ and gave the characteristicPHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY.15 cholesterol reactions. The fatty acids obtained by hydrolysis were not identified; the lead salts were partly soluble in ether. There is evidence therefore that the doubly-refracting substance is an ester of cholesterol. Similar substances melting at 54’ and 5 2 O were obtained from the kidneys of a woman who had died from tuberculosis of the lungs and of a child who had died from uraemia. In these cases there was not sufficient evidence to determine whether the doubly-refracting substance consisted entirely of cholesterol esters as the yield obtained was small. The-author calls attention to the pathological significance of the facts and the need for chemical identification of the doubly-refracting substances. Spontaneous Movements of Amphibian Muscle in Saline Solutions.GEORGE RALPH MINES ( J . Physiol. 1908 37 408-444). -The rhythmical periods in the contractions produced by exposing amphibian muscles to a 0.7% solution of sodium chloride vary from 6 to 0.06 sec. and the movements continue in the presence of curare; large doses of curare abolish them owing to the inorganic salts in the curare employed. The appearance of movements is accompanied by increased excitability t o galvanic currents. The addition of calcium chloride lessens the movements and the excitability. Potassium chloride first increases and then stops both phenomena. The move- ments are regarded as myogenic. S. B. S. W. D. H. Comparative Effect of Alcohol Ether a n d Chloroform on Striped Muscle. Effects of Muecarine and Atropine ou Striped Muscle.AUGUSTUS D. WALLER (Proc. physiol. Isoc. 1908 lxxi-lxxiv lxxxi-lxxxiv ; J. physiol. 3’7).-The comparative anaesthetic effect on the frog’s sartorius was tested by the con- tractions obtained by stimulation when subjected t o immersion in various strengths of alcohol ether and chloroform respectively in 0.6% sodium chloride solution. The strengths iV/alcohol N/10 ether and N/100 chloroform are very nearly physiologically equivalent. The action of muscarine and atropine was tested in a similar way. Both alkaloids act as paralysants the former more powerfully. The chief difference is that muscarine produces a temporary contracture not unlike that caused by nicotine and caffeine. The muscle recovers when placed in normal saline solution but this is less complete after atropine than after muscarine. The antagonism of the two drugs is best shown by mixing them together when the contracture is not observed.W. D. H. Action of Sodium Cyanide on Muscles and Nerves of Gold- blooded Animals. s. DONTAS (Arch. exp. Path. PI~arna. 1908 59 430-443).-111 frogs sodium cyanide acts not only on the central nervous system but also on peripheral nerves. Muscles will not con- tract on stimulation of their nerves when these are exposed to the action of a 0.005% solution of the salt. This is a reversible action and can be removed by washing with Ringer’s solution. I n the early stages of poisoning in the intact animal the toxic effects are removable by the injection of sodium tbiosulphate. W. D. H.76 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS.Chemical‘ Investigations of Placenta. S . HIGUCHI (Biochern. Zeitsch. 1908 15 95-104).-The mean percentage result of the analysis of six placenta water 84.91 ; dry substance 15.09 ; fat 0.846 ; unsaponifiable substance 0.283 ; glycogen 0.032 ; total S. 0.120; total P. 0-140 ; lecithin 0.899 ; total N. 2.266 ; albumin 14.16 ; aqueous extract 3.974 (containing N. 10.38% ; ash 0.38’7%) ; alcoholic extract 2.070 (containing N. 3.521% ; ash 0.492%) ; total asb 0.878. S. B. S. The Effect of Hydrochloric Acid on the Composition of the Subcutaneous Connective Tissue of Rabbits. J. PH. STAAL (Zeitsch. physiol. Chem. 1908 58 97-1 17. Compare Loghem Abstr. 1904 ii 751).-The following determinations have been made with the extract from the subcutaneous connective tissue of normal rabbits and of rabbits to which hydrochloric acid was administered freezing point electrical conductivity and percentage of sodium and of chlorine It is shown that the percentage of sodium increases rapidly (some 4 to 15 times) after the administration of 0.5% hydrochloric acid during two to seven days.The ratio Na/Cl also increases and thus Loghem’s view that by the administration of hydrochloric acid alkali is removed from the tissue is not correct. These new facts can only be brought into harmony with Loghem’s experimental data by concluding that although the percentage of sodium increases fhe sodium concentration decreases in the case of rabbits to which hydrochloric acid has been given Similar experiments were made on the blood of rabbits. J.J. S. Arsenic in the Animal Organism. W. H. BLOEMENDAL (Arch. Pharm. 1908 246 599-616).-The occurrence and distribution of arsenic in the animal organism both before and after the administra- tion of arsenical preparations have been investigated. Full details are given in the original as t o the methods used in preparing arsenic- free reagents. The method adopted of destroying the organic matter was that of Fresenius and von Babo involving the use of hydrochloric acid and potassium Ichlorate. For the detection of the arsenic an electrolytic form of Marsh’s apparatus was employed capable of revealing the presence of 0*0001 mg. of arsenic. The formation of an arsenic mirror was depended on for the detection of the poison and in quantitative work the mirrors formed were dissolved in a sulphuric acid solution of potassium dichromate of known strength and titrated back with N/lOOO or N/4000 sodium thiosulphate.After administration of arsenic the latter can be detected in all parts of the organism but the various parts can be arranged in the following descending order as regards their arsenic content nails hair spleen thyroid gland skin lungs liver kidneys heart sacrum muscle generative organs and brain (compare Scolosuboff t h i s Journ. 1876 i 93; Gautier Abstr. 1900 ii 152 168 226 ; 1902 ii 517; Besredka 1900 ii 156; Denigds 1905 ii 745). Arsenic commonly occurs in the hair even when absent from all other parts. Normally urine contains no arsenic or only traces. Soon after pdministration it can be detected in the urine aud disappears again inPBTSIOLOGIC AT CBEMISTRY.77 ten to twelve days after administration ceases (compare Carlson Abstr. 1907 ii 130). I n man a greater percentage of the arsenic is eliminated in the hair than is the case with rabbits goats or cows. Cacodylic acid is converted in %he organism into arsenious oxide but it is not certain that this is the case with atoxyl. The arsenic in sodium cacodylate is eliminated partly in a gaseous form but this does not appear to be the case with arsenious oxide No arsenic or only traces appears in the milk in the case of the cow goat cat or rabbit but a small amount appears in human milk. Both in man and ankals only traces of arsenic are found under normal conditions (compare Gautier Zoc. cit.) and this appears to have no physiological significance and to be absorbed merely in the form of impurities in food etc.No arsenic is passed from the parent to the foetus. The Relationships of Cycloses to the Animal Organism. EMIL STARKENBTEIN (Zeitsch. physiol. Chem. 1908 58 162-164).- Rosenberger’s conclusion that inosite is present in tissues partly as a mother substance (inositogen) is dissented from. The conclusion drawn from quantitative experiments is that the animal organism contains free inosite. W. D. H. T. A. H. Oxidation of Products of aholesterol in the Animal Organism. 111. ISAAC LIFSCH~TZ (Zeitsch. physiol. Chem. 1908,58 175-184. Compare Abstr. 1907 ii 899).-This paper deals with the methods for the detection of oxycholesterol and further proofs are given that this substance and its precursor exist preformed in blood and bone-marrow.The first oxidation product passes easily into the second. W. D. H. The Origin of Glycine from Uric Acid. L. HIRSCHSTEIN (Arch. exp. Path. Pharm. 1908,59 401-406).-Further proofs are advanced that glycine originates from uric acid both in the body and in uitro. It does not however appear t o be an end-product of uric acid break- down for in alkaline solutions it is destroyed in part as soon as it is €ormed and if the concentration of the alkali is sufficient it is difficult to detect any at all. Storage and Retention of Quinine in the Human Organ- ism. G. GIESMA (Chem. Zentr. 1908 ii 1053 ; from Arch. Schifs- Tropsn-hyg. 1908 12 78-81).-The observation of Schaumann that quinine can be found in the organs of a dog even when the urine is free from alkaloid applies also t o the case of man.The quantities found were however as a rule so small that they could not be estimated quantitatively. I n a kidney weighing 420 grams 6 mg. were found. The blood was free from quinine aiid this observation does not confirm the general opinion that the alkaloid circulates in the blood-stream. The hsmolysis of black-water fever probably occurs in the kidneys. The Extractives from Fish Flesh. A. SUWA (Chem. Zentr. 1908 ii,jlll2 ; from Zentr. Plqsiol. 1908,22 307-310).-The extract W. D. H. S. B. S.78 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS from the flesh of cod was treated with tannin barium hydroxide and lead salts. From the concentrated purified extract creatinine separ- ated.From the filtrate the bases were separated by phosphotungstic acid. From the carbonates t%e alloxuric bases were precipitated with 20% silver nitrate. Other bases were obtained by fractional precipita- tion with silver nitrate and barium hydroxide Creatinine and methylguanidine were obtained in these fractions. After separating excess of silver other bases were obtained by fractional precipitation of solutions of chlorides with mercuric chloride. S. B. S. Osmotic Cloncentration in Body-Fluids of Aquatic Animals. WILLIAM J. DAKIN (Bio-Chem. J. 1908 3 473-490).- Further experiments are recorded on fishes and invertebrates which shorn that changes in the water in which they live brings about sooner or later an alteration in the electrolytes and non-electrolytes of the body-fluids followed by an alteration in the chemical constitution of their cells.Whether the interchange occurs by the gills or the alimentary canal is left undecided. W. D. H. Gharacteristic ‘Principles of Sclerostomum equinum. Presence in this Parasite of an Intensely Hamolytic Crystal- line Alkaloid. TH. BONDOUY (Compt. rend. 1908 147 928-930). -This worm which occurs in the intestine of horses contains an oily base crystallising in prisms yielding precipitates with general alka- loidal reagents furnishing a crystalline picrate and reducing auric chloride in the cold; less than 0.0001 gram produces hsmolysis in seven to eight minutes. G. B. The Sensitising Action of Vegetable and Animal Pigments on Paramacia. WALTHER HAUSMANN and W.KOLMEB (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1908 15 12-18).-1t has been shown already that certain pigments on exposure to light bring about rapid haemolysis of red blood-corpuscles. I n a similar way they can kill paramoecia. The pigments investigated were chlorophyll animal bile from different sources and hsematoporphyrin. I n some cases the pigment was added i n alcoholic solutions it being determined by preliminary experiments that the alcohol had no deleterious influence in the strength used. S. B. S. Sugar from Colostrum. JOHN SEBELIEN and EINAR SUNDE (Zeitach. angew. Chem. 1908 81 2546-2550).-The authors reply t o Schiebe’s criticism (Abstr. 1901 ii 204). Independent evidence is given of the presence of lactose in colostrum and the results of esti- mating this substance by the optical method and by Kjeldahl’s method are compared.Differences are .found of about the same magnitude and in the same direction as was observed when lactose was estimated in milk the optical method giving higher values than the gravimetric method. It is suggested that some small quantity of arabinose causes this difference the amount being put at about 0.05% of the colostrum. J. V. E.PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 79 Excretion of Iodine and Lithium by the Bile. E. FRICHEB (Biochern. Zeitsch. 1908 14 286-39Y).-After the administration of lithium iodate in doses of 1 gram by the mouth in man the excretion of iodine by the bile reaches its maximum in the third hour. Some also leaves the body by the urine but later. If lithium iodide is given 0.86% leaves the body by the bile within twenty-four hours.Lithium also appears in the bile and its excretion by this channel lasts seven hours. The excretion of the two elements does not run parallel. The observ- ations were made on a patient with a biliary fistula. W. D. H. Condition in which Iodine Occurs in the Urine after Inges- tion of Iodides and Iodates. ELI CRESPOLANI (Boll. chim. faym. 1908 47 679-685).-The author confirms the presence of organic iodo-compounds in the urine after ingestion of potassium iodide. Further when alkali iodates are administered the reduction which they undergo takes place only during the gastric digestion and is complete when the quantities of iodate taken are not too great ; this reduction is affected by the action of the peptones in a solution which is faintly acidified with hydrochloric acid.T. H. P. The Influence of Tolylenediamine on the Cholesterol Content of the Faeces. CHOSABUR~ KUSUMOTO (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1908 14 107-41O).-’L’olylenediamine has been stated to cause a destruction of the red blood-corpuscles to which fact has been ascribed the increased amount of cholesterol found by the author in the bile of a dog with a biliary fistula. Further experiments with a normal dog show that subcutaneous injection of the drug causes also an increased excretion of cholesterol in the faxes. The increase like that in the bile is only transitory. S. B. S. The Cholesterol Content of bogs’ Faxes with Ordinary Nutrition and after Administration of Cholesterol. CHOSABUR~ KUSUMOTO (Biochern. Zeitsch. 1908 14 41 1-415).-With a meat diet more cholesterol was ingested than excreted.Addition of cholesterol to the diet caused increased cholesterol excretion. The increase in the amount excreted was however less than the increase in the amount ingested part disappearing presumably either through resorption in the alimentary tract or through destruction by bacteria. S. B. S . The Content of Dogs’ Faxes in Cholesterol and Copro- sterol. CHOSABURO KUSUMOTO (Biochern. Zeitsch. 1908,14,416-418). The acetylation number of the cholesterol isolated from faeces indicated that the crude product contained only cholesterol and coprosterol. The relative amounts of these substances found in the faeces after different diets were determined by means of the iodine number. S. B. S. Uric Acid Hxcretion in Normal Man. PAUL J.HANZLIK and PHILIP B. HAWK (J. BioE Chem. 1908 5 366-366).-The average daily excretion of ten healthy students of ages from nineteen to80 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. twenty-nine years on a normal mixed diet containing 91.2 grams of protein (or 1.33 grams per kilo. of body-weight) was 0.597 gram. The generally accepted average is 0-7 gram. Changes in the Circulation of Nitrogen Produced by Colloidal Silver Prepared by the Electrical Method. EDUABDO FILIPPI and LEONARDO RODOLICO (Chem. Zentr. 1908 ii 1052 ; from Arch. Furrn. sperim. 1908 7 313-328).-Quantities of 5 C.C. of a reddish-brown colloidal silver solution containing 0.025-0.035% of metal were injected for eight days partly subcutaneously and partly intravenously into rabbits.There was a decrease in the nitrogen ’ingested during this period but an increase in the iiitrogen excreted s. B. s. BENJAMIN ~IOORE (Bio.-Chem. J. 1908 3 449-161).-Althougli the lessening of free hydrochloric acid in the gastric contents of cases of cancer is not absolutely diagnostic the author holds that it occurs in the majority of cases in spite of the opposite results obtained by Copeman and Hake in mice. W. D. H. the latter being chiefly in the form of urea. Hydrochloric Acid in the Stomach in Cancer. H e replies to the criticisms of these authors. W. D. H. The Occurrence of Lmmlose in Diabetic Urines. WJLHELM VOIT (Zeitsch. physiol. Chem. 1908 58 122-1 33).-The unsatis- factory nature of both Rosin’s and Borchard’s tests for lsvulose in brine is pointed out ; they frequently give contradictory results and sometimes positive results with normal urine.I n no case of diabetic urine was the I~vulose osazone obtainable. Inhibiting Effect of Potassium Chloride on Sodium Chloride Glycosuris. THEO. C. BURNETT (J. Biol. Chem. 1908 5 351-355). -After glgcosuria has been produced in rabbits by the injection of sodium chloride solutions the injection of a mixture of that salt with potassium chloride (100 2.2) markedly lessens the amount of sugar excreted. W. D H. W. D. H. The Lipolytic Powers of Syphilitic Sera and the Diagnostic Value of Lipolysis by Sera. JULIUS CITRON and KARL REICHER (Chem. Zentr. 1908 ii 1197; from Berl. Klin. Woch. 1908 45j 1398-1400).-Syphilitic sera have a lipolytic power of 208-3.5 for monobutyrin and 0.7-1.4 for lecithin as compared with the values 1.25-2.5 and 0.05-0.5 for normal sera.In view of the fact that Heuberg and Reicher have shown that most immune sera have a high lipolytic capacity this high lipolytic power of syphilitic sera cannot Anzesthesia and Paralysis Caused by Magnesium Salts. SAMUEL J. MELTZER and JOHN AUER (Amer J. Pltysiol. 1908 23 141-147).-Ryan and Guthrie’s view that the symptoms caused by magnesium salts are due t o asphyxia (increase of carbon dioxide in the blood) is an incorrect conclusion they have drawn from a single experiment and is entirely unsupported by analytical evidence. The be considered specific. s. €3. s.PHYSIOLOCIICAL CHEMISTRY. 81 magnesium salts affect the respiratory centre without any preliminary excitation such as is caused by carbon dioxide poisoning.W. D. H. Antagonicam of Alcohol and Carbolic Acid. ALONZO Z. TAYLOR (J. Biol. Chem. 1908,5,319-322).-As tested by its behaviour towards yeast there is no chemical detoxication of carbolic acid by ethyl alcohol. The effect noted by surgeons that alcohol applied to carbolised wounds checks the internal action of the phenol must therefore depend a.; Sollman has suggested upon some physical basis. W. D. H. Beheviour of the Three Isomeric Phthalic Acids in the Dog’s Organism. CH. PORCHER (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1908 14 35 1-360).-Animals received doses of the three acids per 08 generally in small quantities at a time over periods of several days The urine excreted during these periods was collected and the amounts of the phthalic acids therein estimated.It was found that phthalic acid was almost completely burnt in the organism whereas the isophthalic and terephthalic acids were recovered unchanged to the extent of 76%. No glycine conjugated acids were isolated. S. B. S. Physiological Action of Products of Metabolism. 111. Action of Scatole on the Frog’s Heart. IV. Action of Indole on the Frog’e Heart B. DANILEWSKY (Pfliiger’s Archiv 1908 125 349-360 361-377).-The frog’s heart was perfused with Ringer’s solution containing scatole or indole. Both substances depress the activity and frequency of the heart-beat the action being on the cardiac muscle direct. These substances are also deleterious t o ciliated epithelium and low organisms. W. D. H. Physiological Effect of Alkaloids from Hemlock (Conium maculatum). JACQUES M. ALBAHARY and KARL LOFFLER (Compt. rend. 1908 147 996- 999).-Given hypodermically to intact guinea- pigs these bases produce a fall of body-temperature sometimes followed by convulsions and death. The action of d- and Lconiine is identical. The introduction of a hydroxyl group in conhydrine and in $-conhydrine lessens the toxicity which is on the other hand increased by the double linking in the coniceines derived from the conhydrines by elimination of water. The action of $-coniine (obtained by reduc- tion of q-coniceine) is not identical with that of coniine. W. EMERSON LEE (Quart. J. exp. Physiol. 1908 1 335-372).-Nicotine is the most important poison in tobacco smoke; pyridine bases in the quantities present are not injurious. The amount of nicotine inhaled does not depend on the amount in the tobacco but on the form in which it is smoked. The greater the condensation area between the point of combustion and the entrance into the mouth the more nicotine is distilled off from the hot area and will be inhaled Smoking raises the blood-pressure by vasoconstriction accelerates the heart and respiration and increases intestinal movements. In excess cerebral depression may occur and . G B. Action of Tobacco Smoke. VOL. XCVI. ii. 682 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. blood-pressure may be lowered to the point of collapse. are chiefly seen in unpractised smokers. may induce arterial disease. These effects Prolonged tobacco smoking W. D. H.