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Vol. V

January, 1916

No. 17

Biochemical Bulletin

Edited, for the Columbia University Biochemical Association, by

Herman M. Adler,
John S. Adriance,
L. H. Almy,
David Alperin,
Carl L. Aisberg,
D. B. Armstrong,
George Baehr,
J. C. Baker,
Louise C. Ball,
Arnold K. Balls,
Charles W. Ballard,
Louis Baumann,
George D. Beal,
Cora J. Beckwith,
S. R. Benedict,
William N. Berg,
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Louis E. Bisch,
A. Richard Bliss,
Ernst Boas,
Helene M. Boas,
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O. C. Bowes,
William B. Boyd,
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A. T. Cameron,
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Burrill B. Crohn,
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William D. Cutter,
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Norman E. Ditman,

William J. Gies,

Ula M. Dow,
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BiocHEMiCAL Bulletin

Volume V JANUARY, 191 6 No. 17

FRACTIONATION OF THE PHOSPHOTUNGSTIC-

ACID PRECIPITATE WITH ACETONE AS A

USEFUL METHOD FOR THE PREPARA-

TION OF THE VITAMINE FRAC-

TION FROM YEAST

CASIMIR FUNK
(Received for publication, June i, 1915)

Introduction. Knowledge of the chemical nature of vita-
mines progresses slowly. In 191 1 the author (i) was able to prove
that the substance missing from polished rice, deficiency of which
occasions beriberi, is undoubtedly an organic base. This fact is
based upon certain precipitation reactions which were observed fre-
quently and have been confirmed by several workers.

These new findings very powerfully stimulated research in the
whole subject of nutrition. The vitamines were chiefly detected
in materials that are rieh in fat and lipoids (with the exception of
yeast which, although rieh in vitamines, is poor in fat and lipoids)
and, therefore, the somewhat mystical physiological action of lipoids
was ascribed to the new class of chemical substances : the vitamines.

Since 191 1 numerous investigators, including the author, have
endeavored more closely to characterize the active substance. It
seemed, at first sight, to be a simple problem to isolate a substance
showing the marked pharmacological power of curing beriberi after
its experimental production in birds. Knowing its approximate
nature, by application of the usual fractionation methods it was
possible to obtain a very active Solution, freed from inactive im-
purities, from which the vitamine could be crystallized. Durmg the

I

2 Fractionation of Phosphotungstic Acid Precipitate

first investigation the author noticed that the active substance seemed
to diminish rather than increase. Our usual methods proved to
be inadequate for its isolation. In this respect the substance re-
minded one very strongly of the behavior of certain hormones and
products of the glands of internal secretion, whose isolation in the
active State has not yet been effected.

The first attempt to isolate the vitamine, by the fractionation of
rice-polishings, was made by the author by the following method :
Rice-polishings were extracted with cold abs. alcohol, which was
partially saturated with gaseous hydrochloric acid. The extracts
were evaporated in vacuo at a low temp., and the fatty residue
melted and extracted with water. These aqueous extracts were
precipitated with 50 percent phosphotungstic acid sol., after addition
of sulfuric acid to the extent of 5 percent, and the precipitate de-
composed with baryta in the usual manner. The Solution, entirely
freed from baryta and sulfuric acid, was filtered, and the filtrate
neutralized with hydrochloric acid and evaporated in vacuo. The
residue was extracted with alcohol and the Solution freed by filtra-
tion from inorganic chlorids. The alcoholic sol. was then precipi-
tated with alcoholic mercuric chlorid sol. The active substance
was found, to a small extent, in this precipitate but the bulk was in
the filtrate. From each of these fractions the vitamine could be
completely thrown down by silver nitrate and baryta. From this
fraction, after decomposition with hydrogen sulfid, there was iso-
lated a very small quantity of crystalline substance, with a melting
point of 233 °C. This was not recrystallized and possessed very
marked curative power. The only substances isolated from 54 k. of
rice-polishings were this crystallin material which, from our present
knowledge, was undoul^tedly impure nicotinic acid; and a large
quantity of cholin. This work proved that vitamine is quanti-
tatively precipitated by phosphotungstic acid, and by silver nitrate
and baryta, partially by mercuric chlorid in alcoholic sol., but not by
platinic chlorid or picric acid.

Shortly afterwards (1912) there appeared a paper on this sub-
ject by Edie, Evans, Moore, Simpson and Webster (2), who used a
slightly modified method. The source of their material was yeast.
This was extracted with alcohol, and the alc. extract evaporated.

Casimir Funk 3

cleared with lead acetate, and Immediately precipitated with silver
nitrate. This precipitate, when decomposed, gave a small quan-
tity of crystallin organic substance that yielded ash. These authors
did not Claim, however, to have tested the curative power of this
substance.

Later in 19 12 the author endeavored (3) to isolate the vitamine
frbm different foodstuffs, e. g., yeast, ox-brain, milk, rice-polish-
ings and lime-juice. To indicate some of the experimental diffi-
culties that are encountered in this kind of work, these attempts may
be briefly described.

RiCE-POLiSHiNGS. An extract of rice-polishings was precipi-
tated directly with silver nitrate and baryta. This process was
chosen to shorten the procedure and to avoid the use of a large
quantity of alkali, which was supposed to destroy the vitamine.
No vitamine was detected in this case. AUantoin was found, which,
when phosphotungstic acid is used, goes into the filtrate.

Yeast. The evaporated alc. extract of yeast was hydrolyzed
for a short time previous to precipitation with phosphotungstic
acid, with 10 percent sulfuric acid sol., preliminary experiments in
collaboration with E, A. Cooper having been shown that even after
prolonged hydrolysis with strong sulfuric acid sol. (4) the contained
vitamine remained active. The hydrolyzate was worked up in a
w^ay similar to that for the first fractionation of the extract of rice-
polishings, with the difference that Sublimate was not used. The
silver-fraction, when decomposed, yielded a crystallin substance,
melting at 233°C., that gave a precipitate with mercuric acetate, but
not with mercuric sulfate or nitrate.. No copper salt was formed
in boiling water with copper oxid. The yield, 0.45 gm. from 75 k.
of dry yeast, was too small for recrystallization or analysis; a
rather large dose of the substance (0.02-0.04 gm.) proved, however,
to be curative for beriberi pigeons. In another fractionation of
yeast the alc. extract was simply extracted with water and not hydro-
lyzed ; in this case the substance described above could not be iso-
lated but some pyrimidin bases, e. g., uracil and thymin, were ob-

tained.

Milk and brain. Milk and brain were extracted with alcohol,
the evaporated alc. extracts hydrolyzed with acid, and worked up

4 Fractionation of Phosphotungstic Acid Prccipitate

in the usual way. A curative fraction was obtained which, in both
cases, yielded small quantities of crystallin substance, melting above
200° C, which was very likely nicotinic acid.

LiME-juiCE. Nothing definitely crystalHn was obtained from
lime- Juice.

In the same year ( 1912) Suzuki, Shimamura and Odake (5) pub-
lished a very interesting paper on the chemistry of rice-poHshings.
Their method of isolating the active principle was as follows : The
rice-poHshings were first extracted with petroleum ether, to remove
the fat, and then with boihng alcohol. The evaporated alc. extracts
were diluted with 3 percent sulfuric acid sol. and precipitated with
phosphotungstic acid. The precipitate, after decomposition with
baryta, yielded a fraction which these authors called Rohoryzanin I.
This fraction, after hydrolysis with weak acid, gave two acids :
a-acid of the formula, C10H8NO4, and /?-acid of the formula,
CigHieNgOg ; also, nicotinic acid, cholin and glucose. Rohorysanin
I was purified by precipitation with tannic acid.. This precipitate,
after decomposition, yielded Rohoryzanin IL To the latter, picric
acid was added, under conditions that excluded the precipitation of
nicotinic acid, and a picrate was obtained which was called oryzanin
picrate. This picrate was crystallized, by evaporation from acetone,
in small, yellow-brown needles. The authors claimed that very
small quantities of the decomposed picrate possessed strong curative
action.

I repeated this work very carefully but was not able to confirm
it. Neither were the a- and ^-acids detected, nor was a curative
picrate obtained. On the contrary, it was found that the vitamine
was not precipitated by picric acid. It was hoped that by using
large quantities of rice-polishings positive results could be obtained.
In the first instance 380 k. of rice-polishings were used and the
method carried out exactly as described in my first paper on rice-
polishings. The results have been published (6) ; and, recently, all
the various fractions have been carefully re-examined in coUa-
boration with Mr. Drummond (7). In another case an extract
from 620 k. of rice-polishings was worked up. This extract was
hydrolyzed with acid previous to fractionation. In both cases a
most careful inquiry failed to detect any new chemical substance

Casimir Funk 5

that could be regarded as vitamine itself or a decomposition pro-
duct of it. The results of the extractioii of such enormous qiian-
tities have shown beyond doubt that, because of the instabihty of
vitamine, ordinary methods are inadequate.

Yeast undoubtedly contains more vitamine than do any of the
known food-stuffs. Extraction with alcohol, however, removes
only a very small part of the total vitamine content. More promis-
ing results with yeast than with rice were described in the earlier
paper (6). The alc. extract, after hydrolysis with acid, was frac-
tioned according to the methods described in my earlier papers.
From the silver-and-baryta fraction a crystallin product was ob-
tained which melted at a temp. above 200° C. and which, when ad-
ministered to beriberi pigeons, induced very quick recovery. When,
however, maintenance experiments were performed, i. e., with
pigeons on a diet of polished-rice with daily injections of the pro-
duct, the birds could not be kept alive for more than a few days(8).
This shows that the vitamine originally in this product had already
undergone chemical changes that were so profound as to cause it to
lose some of the pharmacological properties of the original yeast.
The product of this first crystallization was divided into three sub-
stances, one of which was nicotinic acid. The administration of
these substances, individually or collectively, to beriberi pigeons did
not show appreciable curative action.

Summarizing the results of previous chemical investigation of
vitamine, we find that this substance is precipitated by a series of
reagents; the curative fraction always contains, especially in the
case of yeast, the three substances mentioned above (including nico-
tinic acid), which, however, when purified, do not exert curative
action. Vitamine is extremely unstable and the most delicate
methods destroy it completely. The destructive factor remains to
be elucidated. Heat and acid (4) are not very important destruc-
tive agents. There is the further difficulty that vitamine is very
readily adsorbed by colloidal precipitates. This tendency cannot,
however, account for the total loss of vitamine, since the fractions
thus obtained are markedly curative. Other probabilities are de-
struction by alkali, loss by oxidation, and the presence of one or
several labile chemical groupings in the vitamine molecule.

6 Fractiotiation of Phosphotungstic Acid Precipitate

The first possibility, destruction by alkali, is dealt with in the
present paper. Several fractionings were performed without the
use of alkah. Because vitamine is very labile it seemed desirable to
separate, early in the procedure if possible, the bulk of the impurities
from the phosphotungstate precipitate. For this purpose acetone
was used. While this work was in progress it was found that
Wechsler (9) had already described the solubility of several phos-
photungstates in dilute acetone. By treating the phosphotungstates
obtained from hydrolyzed alc. extracts of yeast, with acetone in a
mortar, it was found that a very small part of the precipitate re-
mained insoluble. Testing both the insoluble and the soluble parts
on beriberi pigeons, it was found that all the vitamine remained in
the small insoluble fraction. This result was very promising, for
the bulk of the impurities remained behind. The phosphotung-
states thus obtained were not decomposed with baryta but with
neutral lead acetate. After evaporation of the lead-free acetone-
insoluble fraction, the whole residue crystallized out. With this
residue a series of curative experiments were performed which are
described elsewhere (8, 10). The product proved to be highly
curative and, given with polished-rice, kept the animals in perfect
health.

This product was fractioned further, on several occasions; it
consisted chiefly of adenin. After separating the latter substance
with picric acid, the vitamine was found in the mercuric-chlorid
fraction ; it was not precipitated by platinic chlorid, in accord with
previous findings. Vitamine has not yet been obtained in a crystal-
lin State from the platinic-chlorid filtrate, but has been reprecipi-
tated with mercuric chlorid, although the yield has not been sufficient
for further investigation.

Since these results were very promising, attempts were made to
isolate vitamine from autolyzed yeast, which, as was found by
Cooper (11), contains as much vitamine as does the corresponding
amount of fresh yeast It was thought best to combine the use of
autolyzed yeast and of the acetone method, and it was proposed to
separate the impurities from the vitamine at the phosphotungstate
stage. For this purpose the solubility of the phosphotungstates of
several bases occurring in nature, when in Solution in different or-

Casimir Funk 7

ganic solvents, was systematically investigated in conjunction with
J. C. Drummond. After the Separation of impurities it was planned
to transform the vitamine by benzoylation, acetylation or similar
reaction into a stable Compound. The experimental data follow.

Experimental. i. Extraction and precipitation. Three
k. of ordinary brewer's yeast were extracted with alcohol, and 116
gm. of the evaporated extract treated in the cold with 500 cc. of 10
percent sulfuric acid sol. for two days, with f requent shaking. The
acid extract was filtered through a folded filter, the residue washed
with 500 cc. of water, and the filtrate precipitated with 50 percent
phosphotungstic acid sol. After standing over night, the precipi-
tate was removed with suction.

Phosphotungstate precipitate. The precipitate obtained by
the f oregoing process was ground up with acetone in a mortar. The
small residue that remained was obtained, by suction, on a filter and
washed repeatedly with acetone. This acetone-insoluble residue,
amounting to 19.8 gm., was emulsified, in a mortar, with a little
water and mixed well with 60 gm. of neutral lead acetate. The
whole mixture was then shaken on a machine. The resultant lead
phosphotungstate was separated by filtration and the filtrate freed
from excess of lead with hydrogen sulfid. The acetone-soluble part
was diluted with water and shaken with an excess of lead acetate.
The lead phosphotungstate was separated by filtration and the ex-
cess of lead in the filtrate removed with hydrogen sulfid. All the
lead saks obtained during the process were decomposed with hy-
drogen sulfid ; the phosphotungstic acid was removed quantitatively
by means of baryta.

Results of animal experiments. The Solutions of all the frac-
tions were diluted to known volumes and aliquot parts used for
tests on beriberi pigeons. With the ac&tonc-insohtble fraction
three pigeons were cured by i/50th of the total volume. Pigeons
given polished-rice, and a dose of the Solution every few days, main-
tained their health and weight as described elsewhere (8).

The acetone-soluble fraction was tested on two pigeons and
found to be entirely inactive, although the dose was three times
as large as that for the acetone-insoluble fraction. The action of
each of the decomposed lead salts was tested on two pigeons with

8 Fractionation of Phosphotungstic Acid Precipitate

completely negative results. The acetone-insoluble (curative frac-
tion) did not contain phosphorus.

2. These preHminary results suggested repetition of the work on
a larger scale. An evaporated alc. extract from loo k. of dry yeast,
which was semifluid and amounted to 2,580 gm., was extracted in
three portions, each with 4 1. of 10 percent sulfuric acid sol. Each
portion was macerated for 24 hr. and then shaken on a machine for
10 hr. After standing, oil collected at the top; the clear, dark,
colored liquid was siphoned off and finally filtered through a wet
folded filter. The oil was washed with 4 1. of water, in each case,
and the second extract again siphoned off. The combined extracts,
which amounted to 24 1., were precipitated with 50 percent phospho-
tungstic acid sol. After standing over night the precipitate was
separated by filtration, washed several times with 5 percent sulfuric
acid sol., and finally dried. The total amount of precipitate, 2,237
gm., was ground in a mortar with 2.5 1. of dry acetone and the fine
Suspension shaken for 1 5 min. The insoluble part was separated by
filtration, ground in a mortar with acetone, and the liquid filtered.
The insoluble residue weighed 124 gm., subsequent treatment with
acetone diminishing this quantity to 114 gm., which amounted to
5.1 percent of the total phosphotungstate precipitate.

Acetone-insoluble fraction. The material obtained by the fore-
going process (114 gm.) was treated in a mortar with 400 gm. of
neutral lead acetate and shaken for 2 hr. The lead phosphotung-
state was separated by filtration and twice treated in a mortar with
small quantities of lead acetate to complete the decomposition. The
combined filtrates and washings were freed from the excess of lead
with hydrogen sulfid and concentrated in vaciio (temp. of the bath,
26-3 i°C.). During the evaporation a cotton-wool-like substance
separated out. After complete evaporation the residue was entirely
crystallin, colorless and curative in very small doses. The action
was similar to that of the original yeast, but only when all of the
residue was given. To the residue a little water was added and the
liquid filtered. The quantity of insoluble substance was 7.8 gm.
When recrystallized from water, 5.35 gm. were obtained in the form
of prisms. These were dried at iio°C., in vacuo; they darkened
on heating above 250° and did not melt at 320° (uncorr,).

Casimir Funk o

Of this substance, 0.1056 gm. required, by the Kjeldahl method,
38.8 cc. of n/sulfuric acid sei., äquivalent to 51.43 percent of N
(adenin, 51.85 percent) . The combiistion of adenin, because of the
high nitrogen-content, gives very poor resiilts, a fact which has not
been mentioned in the hterature. Data obtained by the combustion
method are appended :

0.1269 gm. substance gave 0.2269 gm. CO2 and 0.058 gm. H.O ; 48.7670 C*
5.11% H.

O.IS79 gm. substance gave 0.2652 gm. CO, and 0.0794 gm. H^O ; 45.8i7o C
and s.62% H.

Calc, for QH5N5 (135-09), 44-41% C; 3.73% H; 51.85% N.

For further identification a small quantity of this substance was
converted into acetyl-adenin. One gm. of adenin was dissolved in
25 cc. of boihng acetic anhydride, and the Hquid poured into cold
water. After evaporation of the Solution, 0.95 gm. of product were
obtained. This material was recrystallized from dilute acetic acid,
the crystals washed with water, and the total yield, 0.6 gm., dried
in vaciio (no water of crystallization) at iio°C. The crystals de-
composed at 300° (uncorr.).

0.1046 gm. of substance required, by the Kjeldahl method, 29.8 cc. of n/io
H,SO,; 39-88% N.

Calc, for CsH^Ns— CO— CH3 (177.12), 39-54% N.

The mother liquor separated from the mass of the adenin crystals
was precipitated with picric acid; 2.y gm. of picrate were obtained.
The picrate, which was very insoluble, was recrystallized from
water; 2.2 gm. of yellow, silky needles were obtained. These had a
melting point of 29i°C. (uncorr.).

O-3478 gm. of substance lost, in vacuo, at 110° C, 0.0142 gm. H.O : 4.08%.
Calc, for adenin picrate, H.O : 4.70%.

0.1154 gm. of substance gave 30.7 cc. N (753 mm., 22.5° C.) : 30-44% N.
Calc, for adenin picrate, CuHsNsO, (364.16) : 30-75% N.

The initial filtrate from the adenin crystals was also precipitated
with picric acid. Excess of the reagent was required for this pur-
pose, and there was obtained 2.9 gm. of picrate identical with adenin
picrate. The filtrate from the picrate was shaken with 40 cc. of
20 percent sulfuric acid sol. and ether to remove the picric acid.
The aqueous sol. was neutralized with ^2 gm. of neutral lead acetate,

lo Fractionation of Phosphotungstic Acid Precipitate

a little alcohol was added to make the lead sulfate more insoluble,
the precipitate was filtered off, and the filtrate freed from excess of
lead with hydrogen sulfid. This filtrate was evaporated in vaciio
at 25 °C., but the residue did not crystallize, The results of the
animal experiments are indicated on page 7.

Precipitation tests were applied to the Solution with the results
indicated below :

Picrolonic acid, -\-

Picric acid, —

Gold Chlorid in water, + ; in alcohol, —

Platinic chlorid in water, — ; in alcohol, -\-

Mercuric chlorid in water, + ; ii^ alcohol, +

To the residue alcohol w^as added, and then an alcoholic sol. of
mercuric chlorid, tili complete precipitation occurred. The precipi-
tate, separated by filtration and washed with alcohol, weighed 3.5
gm.

Mercuric chlorid precipitate. The mercuric chlorid precipitate
was decomposed with hydrogen sulfid. After evaporation the fil-
trate did not crystallize. The residue was dissolved in alcohol and,
after precipitation with alc. platinic chlorid sol., yielded 0.68 gm.
of platinum Compound. The filtrate, freed from platinum with
hydrogen sulfid and precipitated with picrolonic acid, yielded 1.25
gm. of picrolonate. The filtrate was freed from picrolonic acid by
extraction with ether. The Solution still contained 0.0317 gm. of
nitrogen, estimated by the Kjeldahl method, but did not crystallize.
An alcoholic sol. gave, with an excess of mercuric chlorid, a small
quäntity of precipitate, but not enough for chemical study.

Mercuric chlorid filtrate. The liquid was freed from mercury
with hydrogen sulfid, filtered and the filtrate evaporated in vacuo.
The residue, which did not crystallize, was dissolved in alcohol and,
precipitated with platinic chlorid, yielded 1.48 gm. of platinic Com-
pound. The filtrate was freed from platinum with hydrogen sulfid
and precipitated with picrolonic acid. The resultant picrolonate was
more soluble than the product with mercuric chlorid, and weighed
0.9 gm. The filtrate from the picrolonate, freed from picrolonic
acid with ether, contained 0.0522 gm. of nitrogen (Kjeldahl
method).

Casimir Funk

II

Experiments on animals. The influence of each of the above
fractions was tried on two pigeons. The results, for presence of
Vitamine in the f raction, are summarized below :

Phosphotungstate precipitate from yeast *

I I ,

Acetone-insoluble
fraction

Picric acid precipitate

IT

Mercuric chlorid precipitate

Platinic chlorid
precipitate

Filtrate

Picroionate

Filtrate

Acetone-soluble
fraction

Filtrate

Filtrate

Platinic chlorid
precipitate

Filtrate

Picroionate Filtrate

Mercuric chlorid precipitate

Filtrate

3. The fractionation of yeast was repeated, by a method that
was practically the same as that described in section 2. In this case
2,310 gm, of concentrated alc. extract from 90 k. of yeast were first
treated, on a shaking machine, with 3 1. of 10 percent sulfuric acid
sol. The acid extract was separated from the fat and, with phos-
photungstic acid, 2,496 gm. of precipitate (sHghtly moist) were
obtained. The acetone-insoluble fraction amounted to 213 gm.
The extracted fat, treated again with 2 1. of 10 percent snlfuric acid
sol., gave, with phosphotungstic acid, only 45 gm. of precipitate.
This shows that the first extraction was very nearly a complete
one.

Acetone-insoluble fraction. This fraction was treated with 460
gm. of neutral lead acetate sol. in a mortar and the filtrate, after
being freed from lead, was precipitated with picric acid. The re-
sultant picrate (7.1 gm.) was identical with adenin picrate. The
filtrate was acidified with sulfuric acid and extracted with ether to
remove the picric acid. From this Solution sulfuric acid was re-

* The double lines indicate the presence of vitamine.

12 Fractionation of Phosphotungstic Acid Precipifate

moved with lead acetate and the excess of lead with hydrogen sulfid.
The last filtrate was evaporated to dryness in vaciio, the residue dis-
solved in alcohol and precipitated with alcoholic mercuric chlorid
sol.

Mercuric chlorid precipitate. The 14.4 gm. of mercuric chlorid
precipitate obtained by the foregoing treatment were suspended in
water, decomposed with hydrogen sulfid, and the filtrate evaporated
to dryness in vaciio. The residue was dissolved in water, freed
from chlorin with silver acetate, the silver removed with hydrogen
sulfid and the filtrate evaporated, yielding o.i gm. of crystallin sub-
stance which was not investigated further. The filtrate from this
substance was precipitated in alcoholic sol. with platinic chlorid ; 3.9
gm. of a very insoluble platinum salt were obtained. This salt was
recrystallized from water. After decomposition with hydrogen
sulfid and subsequent evaporation it yielded crystals which, dried in
vacuo at iio°C., blackened when heated over 200° but did not melt
even at 300° (uncorr.). The estimation of platinum did not give
constant results; 44.8 percent and 42.5 percent were obtained.

The filtrate from the salt was freed from platinum and evap-
orated in vacuo. The residue gave no precipitate with picrolonic
acid, nor with mercuric acetate, sulfate or nitrate.

Mercuric chlorid filtrate. The filtrate, freed from mercury,
yielded, by evaporation, a crop of crystals weighing i.i gm. The
filtrate from this substance was evaporated in vacuo. The residue,
dissolved in alcohol and precipitated with platinic chlorid, yielded
1.9 gm. of the salt; this has not as yet been investigated. The fil-
trate from the salt, freed from platinum, gave no picrolonate.

The investigation of all these fractions is in progress. The
acetone-insoluble fraction was active, as has been stated elsewhere
(10).

4. Fractionation of autolyzed yeast. Two k. of pressed
baker's yeast were moistened with water and left for 48 hr. at 37°C.
To the mixture an equal vol. of alcohol was added, the liquid fil-
tered, the residue washed, and the filtrate and washings evaporated
in vacuo to dryness. To the residue, 500 cc. of 10 percent sulfuric
acid sol. were added and allowed to stand over night. On the fol-
lowing day 500 cc. of water were added, the resultant precipitate

Casimir Funk 13

filtered off, and the filtrate precipitated with 50 percent phospho-
tungstic acid sol. The dried precipitate weighed 750 gm. and was
quite white in color. The precipitate was treated with acetone in a
mortar as previously described. After several treatments with
acetone the insoluble residue weighed 259 gm., considerably more
than in the case o£ the alc. extract of yeast. The acetone-insokible
residue was practically insoluble in methyl and ethyl alcohols, Chlo-
roform and other organic solvents, so that no further fractionation
could be effected in this way.

Acetone-insoliihle fraction. The 259 gm. obtained by the fore-
going process, were treated, as previously described, with lead ace-
tate. The filtrate, freed from lead and containing a large amount
of acetic acid, was treated with nitric acid and then with silver
nitrate. It is very surprising that no precipitate was obtained.
Powdered baryta was added to the liquid until an alkaline reaction
was obtained, the precipitate decomposed with hydrogen sulfid,
traces of baryta removed with sulfuric acid, and the filtrate evapo-
rated in vaciio. The residue gave a white precipitate, with alcohol,
which will be investigated later. The filtrate from the silver salt,
freed from silver, gave only a very small amount of precipitate with
phosphotungstic acid.

Acetone-soluble fraction. To the acetone sol. a sol. of neutral
lead acetate was added until complete precipitation occurred. The
precipitate was obtained by filtration and washed with 30 percent
acetone sol. A peculiar camphor-like smell was noticed during this
Operation. The filtrate, freed from lead, gave, after evaporation, a
crystallin substance which proved to be unchanged phosphotungstate.
It seems that, in the presence of a large amount of acetone, the de-
composition of phosphotungstates with lead acetate is incomplete.
To finish the process, acetone must be wholly removed by evapora-
tion. When lead acetate was used, all the phosphotungstic acid
was removed. After the removal of its excess of lead and its evap-
oration in vacuo, the filtrate yielded a completely crystallin residue
which, so far, has proved to be without power to eure beriben

pigeons.

5. Fractionation of the phosphotungstate precipitate

OBTAINED FROM AUTOLYZED YEAST, BY THE USE OF ACETONE-WATER

14 Fractionation of Phosphotungstic Acid Precipitate

SOLUTIONS OF DiFFERENT coNCENTRATioNS. In prcliminary study
of this problem, phosphotungstates of several naturally occurring
nitrogenous bases were prepared and their solubility in 25 percent,
50 percent, 75 percent, and 100 percent acetone sol. estimated.* The
f ollowing bases were used : cholin, betain, stachydrin, guanin, adenin,
guanidin, Creatinin and nicotinic acid. It was found that the phos-
photungstates were increasingly soluble in the direction of the arrow :
25 percent->ioo percent— »50 percent^75 percent (acetone). The
solubihty in 75 percent acetone sol. was many times greater than
that in pure acetone. Ahhough mixtures of phosphotungstates may
exhibit a behavior difTerent from that of the individual substances —
a point which has not as yet been determined — it seemed promising
to adopt this method for the investigation of the phosphotungstates
obtained from autolyzed yeast; in which case, as we saw from the
data in the preceding section, a large fraction is insoluble in pure
acetone. By applying this method to the mixture of phosphotung-
states from autolyzed yeast, five fractions were obtained, the last
insoluble fraction having been much smaller in bulk, than that with
pure acetone. It is not known, at present, in which of the five frac-
tions the Vitamine is contained but, from previous findings, one is
inclined to assume its presence in the insoluble fraction, which is
f reed from the bulk of inactive substances without sustaining loss by
decomposition.

The fractionation was conducted as f ollows :

Ten Ib. of wet brewer's yeast were autolyzed for three days.
To the semi-liquid mixture a third of its volume of alcohol was
added and the liquid was filtered. The filtrate was concentrated in
vacuo and the residue shaken with i 1. of 10 percent sulfuric acid
sol. for 24 hr. The residue was obtained by filtration and washed
on the filter with sufficient water to make 2 1. of filtrate and wash-
ings. This liquid was treated with 50 percent phosphotungstic
acid sol. After Standing for 24 hr. the precipitate was separated
by filtration and washed four times with 200 cc. portions of 5 per-
cent sulfuric acid sol. and finally dried. The dry precipitate weighed
1,125 gm.

For fractionation, the precipitate was powdered, passed through

* The estimations were made by my assistant, Mr. J. C. Drummond.

Casimir Funk

15

a fine sieve, and shaken for i hr. with 3 1. of 25 percent acetone.
The insoluble part was sucked off and washed three times with a
total of 500 cc. of 25 percent acetone sol., dried and weighed; 400
grams of the precipitate dissolved. The insokible fraction was
again powdered and extracted, for i hr. on a shaker, with 2 l of
25 percent acetone sol. This time 122 gm. dissolved. The remain-
ing 603 gm. were powdered and extracted in the above-mentioned
way with 2 1. of pure acetone. The insoluble portion was separated
and washed with 250 cc. of acetone; 155 gm. dissolved. The ex-
traction was repeated with i 1. of acetone; 35 gm. dissolved. The
remaining 413 gm. were extracted with i 1. of 50 percent acetone sol.
as previously described. The insoluble residue was separated and
washed with 100 cc. of 50 percent acetone sol. ; 95 gm. dissolved.
The extraction was repeated with i 1. of the solvent and the precipi-
tate washed three times with 100 cc. of 50 percent acetone sol; 60
gm. dissolved. The remaining 258 gm. were extracted with 1,200 cc.
of 75 percent acetone sol., and the precipitate washed twice with 100
cc. of 75 percent acetone sol.; 68 gm. dissolved. The extraction
was repeated with i 1. of 75 percent acetone sol. and the material
washed twice with 100 cc. of the solvent of the same concentration ;
25 gm. dissolved. The extraction was repeated with 680 cc. of 75
percent acetone sol. for i hr. and washed twice with 100 cc. of 75
percent acetone sol.; 15 gm. dissolved. The insoluble residue
finally amounted to 150 gm.

The degrees of Solution in the acetone media of different con-
centrations are indicated in the f ollowing summary :

Total

precipitate,

gm.

Soluble in 25

percent acetone

sol., gm.

Soluble in 100

percent acetone,

gm.

Soluble in 50
percent acetone
sol.. gm.

Soluble in 75

percent acetone

sol., gm.

Insoluble residue,
gm.

II25

522
(46.4%)

190

'[16.8%^

155
(13.7%)

108
(9-6%)

ISO

(13.3%)

These results indicate that, in the case of the phosphotungstate
from autolyzed yeast, the residue with pure acetone amounted to
34 percent of the total precipitate, whereas, with acetone-water sol.
of different concentrations, the residue amounted to only 13.3 per-
cent — and might have been further diminished by additional extrac-

i6 Fractionation of Phosphotungsfic Acid Precipitate

tions. The various phosphotungstates obtained by this method
show entirely different aspects, so that certainly a crude Separation
was affected.

Summary of general conclusions. The phosphotungstate
percipitate from alc. extract of yeast can be divided, by means of
acetone, into two f ractions : a small insohihle f raction, which con-
tains the hulk of Vitamine; and a large soluhle one, which is totally
inactive. The phosphotungstates were decomposed with lead ace-
tate instead of with baryta. This method offers two advantages :
it yields very clear Solutions, which facilitate further purification,
and it avoids the use of alkaH.

In the case of autolyzed yeast, from which a larger yield of
Vitamine may be expected, the acetone method produces an insoluble
fraction which represents 34 percent of the total precipitate. By
using 25 percent, 100 percent, 50 percent, and 75 percent acetone
sol., in this order, it is possible to separate the phosphotungstate
precipitate into four soluble fractions, and into a fifth insoluble one
representing only about 13 percent of the total precipitate.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Funk: Jour. of PhysioL, 191 1, xliii, p. 395.

2. Edie, Evans, Moore, Simpson and Webster: Ann. of Trop. Med.

and ParasitoL, 1912, vi, p. 235.

3. Funk : Jour. of PhysioL, 1912, xlv, p. 75.

4. CoopER and Funk: The Lancet, 191 1, ii, p. 1266.

5. Suzuki, Shimamur^v and Odake : Biochem. Zeit., 1912, xliii, p. 89.

6. Funk: Jour. of PhysioL, 1913, xlvi, p. 173.

7. Drummond and Funk : Biochem. Jour., 1914, viii, p. 598.

8. Funk : Jour. of PhysioL, 1914, xlviii, p. 228.

9. Wechsler: Zeitschr. f. physioL Chem., 1911, Ixxiii, p. 139.

IG. Funk and v. Schönborn : Jour. of PhysioL, 1914, xlviii, p. 328.
II. Cooper: Biochem. Jour., 1914, viii, p. 250.

THE BROMINE AND lODINE COMPOUNDS OF
HEXAMETHYLENETETRAMINE

• ICANEMATSU SUGIURA and K. GEORGE FALK
(Harriman Research Laboratory, Roosevelt Hospital, New York City)

(Received for publication, November i6, 1915)

The extensive therapeutic use of hexamethylenetetramine (uro-
tropin, cystogen, formin, etc.), made a simple quantitative method
for its estimation desirable. A study of the Compounds which it
forms with bromine and iodine showed that such a method may be
based upon the formation of the tetraiodide.

The nitrogen content of a number of preparations of hexameth-
ylenetetramine on the market was determined by the Kjeldahl
method and found to be very close to the calculated value for a
substance of the formula (CH2)6N4.

Bromine derivatives. Legier^ described a dibromine deriv-
ative and Horton^ both a di- and a tetrabromine derivative. When
bromine and finel}'- powdered hexamethylenetetramine were allowed
to stand under a bell jar or in a desiccator, in separate vessels, bro-
mine was taken up as described by Horton; but, contrary to his
results, a product of a definite composition could not be obtained
in this way. The number of bromine atoms taken up varied with
the length of time the reaction was allowed to proceed and the
amount of washing, with ether, of the resulting product. Nitrogen
determinations showed that, after long continued action as many as
five atoms of bromine were taken up per molecule of hexameth-
ylenetetramine. Under the microscope it was evident that mixtures
were present, consisting of yellow dibromine derivative and red Com-
pounds containing a greater proportion of bromine. Similar mix-
tures were obtained in the reaction between aqueous solutions of
hexamethylenetetramine and bromine water. The preparation and

1 Legier: Ber., 18, 3350 (1885).

2 Horton: Ber., 21, 1999 (1888).

17

i8 Compounds of Hexamethylejietetramine

properties of the dibromine derivative, (CH2)6N4Br2, described
by Legier and by Horton, were fully confirmed. Attempts at re-
crystallization were unsuccessful.

loDiNE DERIVATIVES. Horton, in 1888, described di- and tetrai-
odine Compounds of hexamethylenetetramine.

The tetraiodine Compound may be prepared by adding to 5 gm.
of hexamethylenetetramine in 100 cc. of water, 18. i gm. of iodine
in 300 cc. of 95 percent ethyl alcohol. The precipitate first formed
is dark grey, becomes lighter colored after further addition of
iodine, and finally red. After standing over night it is filtered
and washed three times witli 5-10 cc. of 95 percent ethyl alcohol.
After drying in a vacuum desiccator, 22.0 gm. (calc, 23.1 gm.) of
brownish red crystals are obtained. The nitrogcn determinations
(Kjeldahl) yielded the following results :

0.1038 gm. of substance gave 0.00878 gm. of N, or 8.46 percent of N

0.1008 gm. " " 0.00862 gm. " " 8.5s percent of N

0.1038 gm. " " 0.00894 gm. " " 8.61 percent of N

Mean: 8.54 percent of N; calc. for (CH2)6NJi, 8.65 percent of N.

The best medium for recrystallization was found to be Chloro-
form, from whicli the substance was deposited in characteristic,
well formed, mahogany-red, monoclinic crystals. Nitrogen deter-
minations of the recrystallized material gave the following results :

0.2003 gm. of substance gave 0.01695 gm- of N, or 8.46 percent of N

0.2018 gm. ■ " " 0.01706 gm. " " 8.4s percent of N

0.2050 gm. " " 0.01744 gm. " " 8.51 percent of N

Mean : 8.47 percent of N.

After Standing for nine months in diffused daylight, in a stop-
pered bottle, the crystals had become black but still retained their
monoclinic shapes. Nitrogen determinations gave a mean value (for
four analyses) of 8.44 percent. An iodine determination by the
Carius method, with recrystallized substance, gave 0.2869 gm. of
silver iodide from 0.1998 gm. of substance, or 77.6 percent of I ; calc.
for tetraiodine Compound, 78.4 percent. The iodine in the complex
may also be titrated directly with w/25 thiosulfate sol. after addi-
tion of 50 cc. of water and 3 cc. of glacial acetic acid. Starch sol.
is added near the end, and the lumps of tetraiodine Compound must

Kanematsu Sugiura and K. George Falk 19

continually be broken up with a stirring rod. The end point is not
considered to have been reached until after all tlie material is in
Solution. One cc. of m/25 thiosulfate sol. is equivalent to 0.00508
gm. of iodine, or 0.0014 g^i. of hexamethylenetetramine. Two re-
sults of iodine determination by this method may be given :

0.1013 gm. of substance required 15.73 cc. of OT/25 thiosulfate sol., equiva-
lent to 0.0799 gm- of I, or 78.9 percent of I.

0.1044 gm- of substance required 16.16 cc. of w/25 thiosulfate sol., equiva-
lent to 0.0820 gm. of I, or 78.6 percent. of I.

Mean iodine content: 78.7 percent.

The diiodine Compound may be prepared by adding the requisite
amount of iodine dissolved in alcohol to hexamethylenetetramine
dissolved in water (Horton), or by extracting the tetraiodine Com-
pound with ether eight or nine times in a separatory funnel, with
shaking. In this way a dark greenish yellow diiodine Compound
was obtained, whichgavethe following analytic results for nitrogen:

0.2020 gm. : 0.02787 gm. of N, or 13.80 percent of N
0.2016 gm. : 0.02798 gm. " " 13.88 percent of N
Mean: 13.84 percent of N; calc. for (CHo)eN4L, 14.23 percent.

The diiodine Compound is much less soluble than the tetraiodine
product, being almost insoluble in the ordinary common organic
solvents.

Method of estimating hexamethylenetetramine. The
method, based upon the properties of the tetraiodide, is conducted
as follows.

To the Solution in question, 50 cc. being a convenient amount to
use, containing no proteins or similar substance precipitable by
iodine, there is added from a buret or pipet with stirring, an alco-
holic iodine sol. containing 3.6 gm. of iodine in 100 cc. of 95 percent
ethyl alcohol. If hexamethylenetetramine is absent, no precipitate
is foi-med at first but after further addition, bluish black iodine pre-
cipitates. On the other hand, if hexamethylenetetramine is present,
a precipitate is formed, which is first brownish yellow in color; finally,
reddish to dark brown. About 20 percent excess of iodine is ad-
visable; if more is added, iodine may be precipitated. The amount
needed may be judged by the formation of the precipitate as the
iodine sol. is added, or the mixture is filtered and treated with more

20 Compounds of Hexamethylenetetramine

iodine sol., or an approximate determination is made first and then
a more accurate one with new Solution. After all the iodine has
been added (as a rule, 5-8 cc. are required), the mixture is allowed
to stand about 10 min., with occasional stirring, and filtered with
suction through a Gooch crucible containing an asbestos mat (filtra-
tion through paper is unsatisfactory). Re-filtration through the
same mat is advisable. The precipitate is washed five to ten times
with cold water. The precipitate and crucible may be dried in a
vacuum desiccator over calcium chloride to constant weight (no
appreciable loss of iodine occurs at room-temperature within reason-
able time-limits), and weighed as tetraiodine Compound. Better
than weighing the precipitate is the titration of the iodine present
with thiosulfate sol. For this purpose, the precipitate and crucible
are transferred to a beaker, 50 cc. of water and 3 cc. of glacial
acetic acid added, and the mixture titrated with w/25 sodium thio-
sulfate sol., with added starch sol. as described above.

If the liquid, in which hexamethylenetetramine is to be deter-
mined, contains protein matter (such as albumin in urine, etc), an
equal volume of methyl alcohol is first added, the mixture allowed
to stand 1-2 hr. at room-temperature, filtered by decantation through
folded filter paper, evaporated to one-third the volume in a current
of air or under diminished pressure, iodine sol. added, and the de-
termination carried out as already described. The presence of glu-
cose does not interfere with the estimation of hexamethylenetet-
ramine.

The results of the analyses of the tetraiodine preparations given
before, in the description of the substance, show that, as precipi-
tated directly, the product is practically pure. Test analyses with
different mixtures showed, however, that errors may be introduced
by incomplete precipitation of the hexamethylenetetramine, as well
as by iodine that may be carried down with the precipitate. A few
of these results are given below :

Two samples of 0.0502 gm. each of hexamethylenetetramine in
50 cc. of water, precipitated with 6 cc. of iodine sol., filtered, etc.,
required 40.02 and 41.01 cc. respectively of 0.0388 in thiosulfate
sol., corresponding to 0.0543 gm. and 0.0557 S^^'^-> respectively, of
hexamethylenetetramine.

Kanematsu Sugiiira and K. George Falk 2i

Two samples of 0.0251 gm. each of substance in 50 cc. o£ water,
precipitated with 3 cc. of iodine sol., treated similarly, reqtiired 17.80
and 17.64 cc, respectively, of the thiosulfate sol., corresponding to
0.0242 gm. and 0.0239 gm. respectively of original substance.

A series of experiments, in which the nitrogen was determined in
the filtrate f rom the tetraiodine Compound, gave the f ollowing data :

0.0502 gm. of hexamethylenetetramine in 25 cc. of water, pre-
cipitated with 8.5 CC. of iodine sol., gave 1.8 mg. of nitrogen in the
filtrate. In 50 cc. of water, 2.9 mg. were found; and in 100 cc,
4.1 mg. The same amount of iodine sol. was used in each ex-
periment.

The results of further test-analyses will not be given here, only
the conclusions drawn therefrom.

The error in the estimation of hexamethylenetetramine in aque-
ous sol. is at most 15 percent of the amount present; but, as a rule,
it is much less. In urines, a compensation of errors apparently
occurs and the accuracy of the results is greater, perhaps within 5
percent of the amount present. Although this is not a very satis-
factory degree of accuracy for analytical work, it is sufficient for
the purpose in view; that is, for the determination of the amounts
of hexamethylenetetramine eliminated by the body under various
conditions.^

Very often, in the precipitation of urines with iodine sol., the
tetraiodine Compound forms fine needles. If a qualitative Identifi-
cation of the substance is desired, a recrystallization from Chloro-
form with production of the characteristic, mahogany-red, mono-
clinic crystals suffices. In the recrystallization, about 25 percent
of the substance is lost, so that in this way, a rough idea of the
amount originally present may be obtained.

3 The results obtained so far in this part of the investigation will be pre-
sented in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Thcrapeiitics, January,
1916.

• BRIEF CONTRIBUTIONS TO BIOCHEMISTRY

Numbers 1-7

JACOB ROSENBLOOM
(Biochemical Laboratory of the Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa.)

(Received for publication, December 29, 1914)

I. Report o£ chemical examination of the brain of a

luetic fetus

Through the kindness of Dr. A. L. Garbat and Dr. O. Hensel
there was placed at my disposal the brain of a luetic fetus obtained
at the sixth month of gestation. It was thought that a chemical ex-
amination of this organ would prove of interest on account of the
marked changes that this disease causes in the cerebro-spinal System.

Methods. The desiccation of the material, extraction of the
lipins and the chemical analysis were carried out according to the
methods described in former papers.^ Phosphorus was estimated
by Neumann's^ method (weighed as magnesium pyro-phosphate) ;
nitrogen by the Kjeldahl-Gunning method; sulfur by Benedict's^
method, with fuming nitric acid to oxidize before adding the sulfur
reagent; calcium and magnesium in the ash by McCrudden's*
method. The water content of the brain was estimated by Benedict' s^
method. The cerebro-galactosids were estimated by determining
gravimetrically, with Fehling Solution, the amount of galactose split
off with dilute hydrochloric acid.

Table i presents the results obtained in this study, together with
certain data found in the literature.

1 Hanes and Rosenbloom : Jour. Exp. Med., 191 1, xiii, p. 355. Rosenbloom :
Jour. Biol. ehem., 1913, xiii, p. 511.

2 Neumann: Zeit. f. physiol. Chem., 1902, xxxvii, p. 129; 1904, xliii, p. 35.

3 Benedict : Jour. Biol. Chem., 1909, vi, p. 363.
*McCrudden: Ibid., 1911, x, 187.
•^Benedict: Amer. Jour. Physiol., 1905, xiii, 309.

22

Jacob Rosenhloom

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24

Brief Contributions to Biochemistry

2-5. Chemical analyses of human hydramnios fluid (2), nor-
mal human pericardial fluid (3), normal human bile
(4), and human cerebro-spinal fluid (5)
The methods of analysis were those referred to in section i, or
others equally satisfactory and in general vogue. See Tables 2-5,

TABLE 2

Data pertaining to the composition of human hydramnios fluid: Parts per wo

Specimens

Constituent

I

2

3

4

5

6

Specific gravity

Protein

Total nitrogen

Ammonia nitrogen ....
Sulf ur

10.10

0.15

O.II2

0.0042

0.007

O.II7

0.0050

0.724

11.04

88.96

10.08
0.29
0.092
0.0052
0.009
O.II2

0.0062
0.782

II. 12

88.78

10.07

0.34

0.098

0.0063

0.013

0.I2I

0.0063

0.737
10.91
89.09

10.05
0.36
0.122
0.0054
0.015
0.120

0.0054
0.692

10.98

89.02

10.12
0.41
0.089
0.0072
0.017
O.II9

0.0062
0.702

11.07
88.93

10. II

0.45
0.093

0.0070
0.0190

Urea

0.II6

Creatin

Creatinin

Uric acid

0.0053

Ash

0.714

Total solids

11.29

Water

88.71

TABLE 3

Data pertaining to the composition of normal human pericardial fluid:

Parts per 100

Constituent

Specimens

I

2

3

4

10.13

10. II

10.10

10.14

2.7

2.6

2.1

2.8

0.644

0.620

0.670

0.580

0.031

0.038

0.029

0.026

0.125

0.132

0.138

0.127

97.1

96.4

96.3

96.6

2.9

3-6

3-7

3-4

0.71

0.78

0.64

0.68

Specific gravity

Protein

Nitrogen

Sulfur

Phosphorus. . .

Water

Total solids. . .
Sodium Chlorid

TABLE 4

Data pertaining to the nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus contents in normal

human bile: Parts per 100

No.

Source

Male, 30 yr

Male, 42 yr

Male, 46 yr

Female, 48 yr

Female, 36 yr

Male, 19 yr

Male, 22 yr

Male, 34 yr

Sulfur

Nitrogen

Phosphorus

0.081

0.434

0.081

0.072

0.395

0.072

0.053

0.421

0.059

0.071

0.398

0.068

0.087

0.445

0.087

0.076

0.462

0.079

0.069

0.397

0.073

0.079

0.438

0.080

I

2

3
4
S
6

7
8

Jacob Rosenhloom

25

TABLE 5

Data pcrtaining to the nitrogen, sulfnr and phosphorus contents in human

cerebro-spinal fluid: Parts per 100

No.

Source

Nitrogen

Sulfur

Phosphorus

I

Female, 40: Diabetes

0.196
0.172
0.177
0.298
0.310
0.276
0.192
0.186
0.362
0.270
0.268

0.034
0.029
0.032

0.057
0.062
0.049
0.030
0.029
0.062
0.045
0.049

2

Male, 30 : Normal

0.050
0.048

3

Male, 34: Normal

4

Male, 26: Tbc. meningitis

0.052
0.124
0.140
0.075
0.054
0.048
0.170
0.092
0.087

5

Male, 52 : Cerebral lues

6

Male, 48 : Cerebral lues

7

Male, 30: Normal

8

Female, 34: Normal

9

Male, 18: Meningitis

10

Male, 34: Gen. paresis

II

Male, 39: Gen. paresis

6. On the absence of creatin and Creatinin from human

cerebro-spinal fluid

Examination of 200 cc. of human cerebro-spinal fluid collected
from different cases, failed to show any trace of creatin or Creatinin.
The Jaffe method was employed.

7. A modification of Gerhardt's test for diacetic acid in urine

The precipitate that f orms with the addition of f erric chlorid sol.
to urine, on testing for diacetic acid, often obscures the development
of the port wine color due to the presence of diacetic acid. Some
have recommended that this precipitate be filtered off so as to prevent
this difficulty. I have found, however, that if this test is carried
out as a contact test, similar to Heller's test for protein in urine, the
precipitate does not interfere but the test is made more delicate and
positive reactions are more striking. One simply pours about 5 cc.
of urine on top of 5 cc. of 10 percent ferric chlorid sol. and, if dia-
cetic acid or the other substances that form port wine colors with
ferric chlorid are present, a fine port wine color appears in the zone
of contact.

THE BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY, ENGLAND
Scientific programs

R. H. A. Flimmer, Secretary

November 8. Physiol. Lab.^ King's College, Strand,
London. (5.30 p. m.)^

A. T. Cameron: Distribution of iodine in plant and animal
tissues.

/. C. Drummond: Volumetrie estimation of total sulphur and
sulphates in small quantities of urine.

H. Maclean: Action of diabetic blood on sugar.

H. Maclean: Observations on the quantitative determination of
carbohydrates by means of the ordinary alkaline copper Solutions.

A. J. Ezvins: Note on the Separation of Creatinine and methyl-
guanidine by the silver method.

December 13. Lister Inst., Chelsea Gardens, London,
S.W. (5.00 P. M.)2

5*. W. Cole and Hon. H. Onslow: Differential diagnosis of bac-
teria by the final hydrogen concentration.

^. W. Cole: Estimation of uric acid.

W. Brown: Preparation of collodion membranes of any required
degree of permeability.

/. C. Drnmmond: Obsei"vations upon the growth of young
chickens under laboratory conditions.

/. C. Drummond : Growth of rats upon artificial diets.

W. A. Davis: Distribution of maltase in plants and its function
in starch degradation.

A. J. Daish: Presence of maltase in the leaves of plants.

A. J. Daish: Presence of maltase in germinated barley.

6". Walpole: Demonstration of plate form of ultra-filter.

E. E. Atkin and A. Bacot: Demonstration of association be-

tween the development of mosquito larvse and the presence of bac-

teria.

►9. Walpole: Demonstration of still for conductivity-water.
University College, London.

1 The last two preceding meetings were held on May 5 and June 12. See
BiocHEMicAL Bulletin, 191 5, vol. iv.

2 The next two meetings are scheduled for Feb. 12 and Mar. 9.

26

SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ANALYSTS
AND OTHER ANALYTICAL CHEMISTS

E. Richards Bolton, Secretary

Ordinary Meeting, December i, 191 5. Held at the Chemical
Society's Rooms, Burlington House, London. Mr. A. Chaston
Chaprnan, President, in the Chair.

Dr. Eric Keightley Rideal and Mr. Arthur Stanley Carlos were
elected members of the Society. Certificates were read, for the first
time, in favour of Messrs. Thomas John Hitchcock and Nelson
Trafalgar Foley. Certificates were read for the second time in
favour of Messrs. Thomas Featherstone Harvey, Cyril Herbert
Manley, Caryl Cameron Roberts and Frank Thomas Shutt.

ABSTRACTS OF THE PAPERS THAT WERE READ

The " presumptive coli test " on unchilled waters : W. Par-
tridge, F.I.C. The author pointed out that if positive results are
ignored and negative results only considered, the ' presumptive B.
coli test ' often usefully Supplements the ordinary chemical analysis
of unchilled water.

Notes on methods of analyzing oleaginous seeds and f ruits :
E. Richards Bolton. It is shown that the errors in the estimation
of oil in oleaginous seeds and f ruits (copra in particular) are due
rather to sampling than to actual analysis. Methods of sampling,
grinding and analysis were demonstrated to show that while the oil
in copra could be estimated with great accuracy by the methods
given, departure from the procedure would be liable to cause con-
siderable error.

46 Stamford Brook Road, W., London.

27

PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ANNUAL MEETING

OF THE FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SOCI-

ETIES FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY,

IN BOSTON, DEC. 26-29, 1915

PAUL E. HOWE

PrEPARED FROM REPORTS BY THE SECRETARIES OF THE CONSTITUENT SOCIETIES,

C. W. GREENE, P. A. SHAFFER, JOHN AUER and PEYTON ROUS

Contents. (I) Federation of Amer. See. for Exp. Biol. : John Auer, Sec'y
of the Exec. Commit. of the Federation, 28; (II) Amer. Physiol. Soc. : C. W.
Greene, Sec'y, 33; (HI) Amer. Soc. of Biol. Chemists : P. A. Shaffer, Sec'y, 37;
(IV) Amer. Soc. for Pharmacol. and Exp. Therap. : John Auer, Sec'y, 42; (V)
Amer. Soc. for Exp. Pathol. : Peyton Rous, Sec'y, 47.

I. FEDERATION OF AMER. SOCIETIES FOR EXP. BIOLOGY:
THIRD ANNUAL MEETING

John Auer,

Secretary of the Executive Committee for 19 15

The third annual meeting of the Federation, comprising the
Amer. Physiol. Soc, the Amer. Soc. of Biol. Chemists, the Amer.
Soc. for Pharmacol. and Exp. Therapeutics, and the Amer. Soc. for
Exp. Pathol., was held in the laboratories of the Harvard Med.
Seh., Boston, Dec. 27-29, 191 5.

Dinners. Two informal subscription dinners were given on
the evenings of Dec. 2y and 28 at the Hotel Lenox. At the first
dinner the Chairman of the Exec. Commit of the Fed. for 19 15,
Torald Sollmann, gave a brief reviewof the history of the Fed. and
pointed out some possible future developments.^ The Chairman
then called upon Drs. W. B. Cannon, Walter Jones, and John Auer,
who responded with pithy speeches.

Scientific program. Only two Joint scientific sessions couldbe
arranged, the large number of papers offered, and the limited time,
preventing other general meetings.

1 The substance of Prof. Sollmann's address is given on page 30.

28

Paul E. Howe 29

First session, Monday^ Dec. 27, 9.00 a. m. Presiding
officer: President of the PharmacoL Soc, and Chairman of the
Exec. Commit. for 191 5, Torald Sollmann.

Symposium : Food accessories. Disciission opened by T. B.
Osborne and L, B. Mendel, Casimir Funk (absent), E. V. McCol-
lum, and Carl Voegtlin,

W. H. Howell: Formation and structure of fibrin gel. — Jacques
Loeh: Mechanism of osmosis. — W. B. Cannon and R. Fitz: Over-
activity of the cervical sympathetic. — Otto Polin and R. D. Bell,
with the assistance of G. Le B. Poster: New observations on the
uric-acid content of the blood. — A. L. Meyer and 5. /. Meltzer:
Continuous insufflation through the humerus in fowl. — E. K. Mar-
shall, Jr., and D. M. Davis: Influence of the adrenals on the kidney.
— Leo Loeh: Heredity and internal secretion in the origin of cancer
in mice. — /. B. Murphy: Effect of X-rays on cancer immunity. —
Harvey Cushing and Gilbert Horrax: Presence of posterior-lobe
secretion in the cerebro-spinal fluid.

Second SESSION. TuESDAY, Dcc. 28, 2. CO p. m. Presiding
officer : President of the PharmacoL Soc, and Chairman of the
Exec. Commit. for IQ15, Torald Sollmann.

Demonstrations. P. R. Miller: Deglutition centre in the
meduUa oblongata. — C. G. Bull: Demonstration of the agglutination
of bacteria in vivo. — Peyton Rons and P. S. Jones: Method of ob-
taining suspensions of living somatic cells of the higher animals. —
G.H. A. Clozves: Analogous antagonistic effects exerted by electrol-
ysis and anesthetics on physical Systems and living cells. — W. B.
Cannon and McKeen Cattell: Action current of glands. — H. B. Wil-
liams: New type of string galvanometer and accessory apparatus. —
Robert Gesell: Apparatus for the investigation of cardiodynamics.
— A. L. Prince: Circulation model. — Theodore Hough: Improved
slide for blood counting. — W. B. Cannon: Motor-driven airblast
interruptor for artificial respiration. — Yandell Henderson: Mine-
rescue breathing-apparatus. — H. G. Barbour and L. L. Maurer:
Method of studying respiration in the rat.— ^. L. Meyer and 5*. /.
Meltzer: Insufflation through the humerus in fowl. — W. McK. Mar-
riott: Simplified procedure for the determination of carbon dioxide
tension in alveolar Siir.—R. T. Woodyatt: Quantitative pump for

30 Federation of American Biological Societies

prolonged intravenous injections. — D. E. Jackson: New apparatus.
— Raymond Spaeth: Apparatus for recording graphically the move-
ments of melanophores. — E. C. Rosenow: Elective localization of
Streptococci. — P. A. Koher: Nephelometrie methods; Reagents for
the estimation of proteins, nucleic acids, purin bases, uric acid, phos-
phorus, and ammonia (Graves' reagent). — G. W. Fitz: Perfected
"shadow pupillometer." — E. G. Martin: Simple rheostat for labo-
ratory use; A motor-driven circuit-breaker.

Executive proceedings. Exec. Commit. für 191 6. Chair-
man, Simon Flexner; secretary, Peyton Rons (Pathol. Soc.) ; W.
B. Cannon, C. W. Greene (Physiol. Soc.) ; Walter Jones, S. R.
Benedict (Biochem. Soc.) ; Reid Hnnt, John Auer (Pharmacol.
Soc).

Next meeting. The next annual session of the Fed. will be
held in New York City, in affiliation with the Amer. Assoc. for the
Adv. of Science.

Chairman Sollmann's address at the dinner. Prof. Torald
Sollmann, Pres't of the Pharmacol. Soc, and Chairman of the
Exec. Commit. of the Fed., for 1915, addressed the Fed. at the first
" Joint dinner and smoker," on Dec 27th, in substance as follows :

It may not be useless to review the objects that the Fed. was
intended to accomplish; to see how well these have been attained;
and to examine what if any changes may be desirable,

The object of the Fed. was to facilitate the affairs that con-
cern all the constituent societies — societies with common Ideals, and
common Standards; differing only in their technical features. To
the founders it seemed that a working federation of these societies
would prevent a good deal of unnecessary motion and dissipation
of energy. It would effect a saving of time for the Councils and
secretaries in arranging places of meetings and other associated
details, and in preparation of the programs. It would provide a
method of taking care, at least temporarily, of the growing number
of papers, and to a certain extent distribute them more equally
among the various societies. It would be a standing invitation to
hold Joint meetings and thus to heal the wounds of fission that
modern specialization has made unavoidable. Above all, it would
constantly keep before the consciousness of the members of the spe-

Paul E. Howe 3 1

cial societies the fact that they are also members of the larger
brotherhood of the biological sciences. In brief, the objects of the
Fed. may be summed up as greater efficiency and broader ideals.

Although the existence of the Fed. has been short, it has given
a pretty fair opportunity of testing how far these objects could be
accomplished. It will therefore repay us to review briefly its
accomplishments. In the first place, the Fed. has not realized the
fears of those who believed that it would infringe on the independ-
ence or identity of the various constituent societies. Each society,
in its individual affairs, remains as independent as it pleases, as
independent and individnalistic as it ever was. The individual so-
cieties have merely been relieved of individual drudgery — and they
have their own turn at this every four years.

The mechanism by which the Fed. guards the individual rights
and likes of its constituent societies is most interesting. The Fed.
Stands almost unique among societies, in that it has no Constitution ;
and, strictly speaking, no officers, for the societies undertake the
management of the meetings in the order of their seniority.

The question naturally arises : Is this arrangement the best one ?
Or, Should the Fed. adopt a formal Constitution, possibly extending
its functions? These, as well as other questions, I leave to the con-
sideration of future Councils and officers. My personal preference
would be to let the Fed. continue its present abstract and ideal ex-
istence, rather than to confine it in fetters of rigidly formulated
rules.

It might, however, be advisable for the individual societies, when
they have occasion to revise any part of their own constitutions, to
bring these, as far as it is wise, into harmony with the constitutions
of the other societies in the Fed.

In the direction of the energetic imperative, in saving energy,
time and expense, the Fed. has been an unqualified success. The
meeting places have been selected and the arrangements made with
a minimum of labor, and, through the distribution of the constitu-
tions and the membership lists of all the societies to every individual
member, the experimental biologists have come to know each other
better.

These results, it is true, are due largely to the devotion of the

32 Federation of American Biological Societies

secretaries, who have served the Fed. Nevertheless, it is the Fed.
that gave them the opportunity to direct their energies into these
really productive Channels. They have earned and no doubt re-
ceive the füllest appreciation of the members of the Fed., and by
the same token, we may justly expect equal devotion from the future
secretaries.

In the matter of program, the success of the Fed. has been
equally great, although perhaps not as complete. The Cooperation
of the secretaries, which is made possible by the Fed., has resulted
in a more evenly balanced program and in a more logical distribution
of papers, both as to subject and time, The society that has too
many papers can transfer some of these to the societies with smaller
numbers. The members of any one society are given the oppor-
tunity of hearing papers presented before any other society; and a
worker in any special subject has the privilege of presenting his
data before the society most interested, regardless of his individual
membership. This condition lessens the need of belonging to the
several societies, a matter of financial importance to some of the
members. The societies themselves gain by this natural limitation
of their membership to those who are continuously interested in
their special subject.

On the other band, the fact that a member of one of the societies
is, in a sense, a member of all the societies of the Fed., makes it
doubly important that every society shall use due care in admitting
new members ; and in maintaining its membership above reproach.
Incalculable härm must come to American science if the member-
ship of its scientific societies is abused for commercial advertising
purposes.

In one respect the Fed. has failed to accomplish all that was
hoped from it, namely, in relieving the pressure of papers. For the
first year or so there did, indeed, appear to be a noticeable measure
of relief ; and the beneficial practice of Joint sessions could be main-
tained. It could have been foreseen, however, and doubtless was
foreseen, that this relief would be only temporary. In fact, any
measure can give only temporary relief whilst American science is
growing. Permanent relief could be given only by restricting the
Output of American research; and no one has any doubt as to which

Paul E. Howe 33

of the two evils is the smaller. Whilst permanent relief is not to
be foreseen, we may safely leave a few problems to onr intellectual
and academic descendants.

We will have done cur füll duty if we meet this problem in our
own generation. There are several possible ways of relief for the
present congestion. It is not necessary to discuss all of them.
There are objections to each and one need not take up the more
objectionable until that becomes necessary. The mildest method is
that already adopted by most of the societies, namely, of progres-
sively limiting the number of papers that may be offered by any one
worker, if the program is congested.

Whilst we would all like to hear about all the work that each
member has done each year, that is manifestly impossible. And,
since it is impossible, it may not be too much of an imposition to
ask each worker to present only the one topic which he himself be-
lieves to be most interesting or valuable. I suggest, therefore, that
each member be entitled to read but one paper before the Fed. each
year but that additional papers may be accepted by the secretaries,
if the condition of the programs permits. Before admitting these
additional papers, however, the secretaries should arrange for the
desirable number of Joint sessions; and should also assure them-
selves that enough time is given to encourage discussion.

A final subject, which future Councils will have to take up, is the
question of loose or close affiliation with other societies, for instance
the Anatomists. This subject is too large for consideration tonight.

Further general comment, on the affairs of the Fed., is published
on p. 44.

IL AMERICAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY:
TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING

C. W. Greene, Secretary

The Amer. Physiol. Soc. held its twenty-eighth annual meeting
at the Harvard Med. Seh., Boston, Mass., Dec. 26-29, 1915. An
unusually strong program of scientific papers was presented. Many
papers called for vigorous discussion and the interest in the meet-

34 Federation of American Biological Societies

ings was rendered thereby noticeably more enthusiastic. Six scien-
tific sessions were held, two of which were Joint sessions with the
other societies of the Federation. At the independent meetings the
following papers were presented.

Scientific program. First session. Monday_, Dec. 27, 2.00
p. m. /. R. Miirlin and /. E. Sweet: Influence of gastrectomy on
subsequent pancreatectomy in dogs. — M. E. Fiilk and /. /. R. Mac-
leod: Distribution of suprarenin-yielding tissue in different animals.
— W. J. Meek: Action of minimal doses of adrenalin. — R. G. Hos-
kins and Aiigiista D. Hoskins: Effects of suprarenal feeding on the
white rat. — E. A. Bedford and H. C. Jackson: Adrenalin content of
the blood in conditions of low blood-pressure and " shock." — R. S.
Linie: Rhythmical changes in the resistance of dividing sea-urchin
eggs to hypotonic sea-water ; Mass-action in the activating effect of
butyric acid on unfertilized starfish eggs. — W. J. V . Osterhout:
Permeability of animal and plant cells. — G. H. A. Clozves: Role
played by electrolytes in determining the permeability of proto-
plasm. — G. H. Parker: Three types of muscular response in sea-
anemones. — F. S. Lee, A. E. Guenther and H. E. Meleney: Rela-
tion of certain muscles to oxygen. — W. P. Lombard: Influences
afTecting voluntary muscular w^ork, especially age and tobacco. —
W. C. Qninby: Function of the kidney when deprived of its nerves.

Second SESSION. TuESDAY, Dec. 28, 9.00 a. m. E. B. Krumh-
haar: Electrocardiographic studies in normal infants. — C. J. Wig-
gers: Time relations of auricular Systole. — A. L. Dean: Movements
of the mitral valves in relation to auricular and ventricular systoles.
— H. Steenhock, J. A. E. Eyster and W. J. Meek: Relation of the
chronotropic action of the vagus to the nodal tissues. — W. M.
Boothby and /. Sandiford: Tension of carbon dioxide and oxygen
in venous blood at rest and at work. — Clyde Brooks and A. B.
Luckhart: Chief physical mechanisms concerned in clinical methods
of measuring blood-pressure. — R. Burton-Opits: Hemodynamic
studies. — Joseph Erlanger: Mechanism of the arterial-compression
Sounds of Korotkoff. — C. M. Grnber: Responses of the vaso-motor
mechanism to different rates of Stimulation. — E. G. Martin and P.
G. Stiles: Vaso-motor summations. — Theodore Jloiigh and /. A.
Waddell: Blood changes following hemorrhage and Infusion. — A.

Paul E. Howe 35

PV. Peters and C. D. Blackhurn: Experimental and clinical studies
on mental defectives : (III) Relation of systolic and diastolic blood-
pressures and their power of adjustment to body position. — R. T.
Woodyatt: Prolonged uniform intravenous injections,

Third SESSION. Wednesday, Dec. 29, 9.00 a, m. IV. E.
Bürge: Mode of action of ultra-violet radiation in destroying hor-
mones, pro-enzymes, enzymes and living cells. — Robert Gesell:
Initial length, initial tension, and tone of auricular muscle in relation
to myo- and cardiodynamics. — C. D. Snyder: Is the contraction of
smooth muscle accompanied by heat-production? — P. M. Daivson
and P. C. Hodges: The experiment of Valsalva. — T. L. Patterson:
Comparative studies in the physiology of gastric hunger-contrac-
tions in amphibia and reptiha. — F. R. Miller: Localization by faradic
Stimulation in the floor of the fourth ventricle. — W. H. Spencer,
G. P. Meyer and P. B. Hawk: Direct evidence of duodenal regurgi-
tation and its influence upon the chemistry and function of the nor-
mal human stomach. — F. P. Knowlton: Diuretic action of tissue
extracts. — R. G. Pearce: Appearance of sugar in the digestive secre-
tions in phloridzin glycosuria. — H. L. Higgins: Rapidity with which
alcohol and some sugars are available as nutriment. — VV. B. Cannon
and McKeen Cattell: Electrical changes in glands. — /. Aiier: Action
of the depressor nerve on the pupil. — Raymond Spaeth: Evidence
showing the metaphore to be a disguised type of smooth muscle. —
E. G. Martin and R. W. Lovett: Voluntary Innervation of skeletal
muscle.

Fourth Session, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2.00 p. m. M. L.
Koch and Carl Voegtlin: Comparison of chemical changes in the
central nervous System, in pellagra and in animals on an exclusive
vegetable diet. — E. L. Scott: Lecithin-glucose preparation. — /. H.
Pratt: Effect of excluding pancreatic secretion from the intestine
on the absorption of nitrogen and fat. — /. R. Murlin and /. A.
Riche: Fat of the blood in relation to heat-production, narcosis and
muscular work. — C. W. Greene and W. S. Summers: Fat and lipase
content in the blood in relation to fat feeding and to fasting. — T. B,
Osborne and L. B. Mendel: Practical applications of feeding ex-
periments with albino rats. — Aaron Arkin: Influence of chemical
substances on immune reactions, with special reference to oxida-

36 Federation of American Biological Societies

tion. — Sutheriand Simpson and A. T. Rasninssen: Effect of thyro-
parathyroidectomy on the blood-coagulation time in the dog. — A.
Forhcs and R. H. Miller: Detection with the string galvanometer
of afferent impulses in the brain-stem and their abolition with ether
anesthesia. — C. D. Snyder: Smooth-muscle nerve preparation. — F.
H. Pike: Cinematograph and lantern demonstration of some effects
of lesions of the nervous System. — V. N. Shamoff: Secretory dis-
charge of the pituitary body prodiiced by Stimulation of the superior
cervical ganghon; Action of various pituitary extracts on the iso-
lated intestinal loop.

Papers read by title. C. C. Fozuler, M. E. Rehfuss and P. B.
Hawk: Influenae of certain cereal foods on gastric secretion. —
Sergins Morgidis: Changes in the composition of the bodies of fast-
ing lobsters. — Joseph Erlanger: Contractility of the musculature of
auriculo-ventricular valves. — R. J. Miller, M. E. Rehfnss and P. B.
Hawk: Psychic secretion of gastric juice.

Executive proceedings. Physiological abstracts. The
most important act of the Society was the passing of a resolution
to collaborate with the British Physiological Society in the publica-
tion of a periodical to be named Physiological Abstracts.

New Members: G. A. Baitsell, Yale Univ.; N. R. Blatherwick,
U. S. Dep't Agr., Wash., D. C. ; W. R. Bloor, Harvard Univ. ; W.
M. Boothhy, Peter Bent Brigham Hosp., Boston; T. M. Carpenter,
Carnegie Nutr. Lab. ; E. C. Day, Syracuse Univ. ; C. K. Drinker,
Katherine R. Drinker, Johns Hopkins Univ. ; H. S. Gasser, Univ.
Wis. ; T. S. Githens, Rockef eller Inst.; A. Gidick, Univ. Mo.; C.
W. Hooper, Hooper Foundation, San Francisco; B. Kramer, State
Univ. Iowa; E. K. Marshall, Jr., Johns Hopkins Univ.; W. L.
M endenhall, Dartmouth Coli. ; Maiid L. Menton, Barnard Skin
and Cancer Hosp., St. Louis; Geo Peirce, Johns Hopkins Univ.;
A. L. Prince, Yale Univ.; vS. IV. Raiuon, Northwestern Univ.;
R. A. Spaeth, Yale Univ.; D. W. Wilson, Johns Hopkins Univ.

Officers-elect. President, W. B. Cannon; secretary, C. W.
Greene; treasurer, /. Erlanger; member of the Council, 1916-1919,
W. J. Meek.

Comment. The general sentiment among those who attended
the meeting was that this was one of the most enthusiastic and suc-

Paul E. Howe 37

cessful ever held, a success that was due largely to the efficiency and
hospitality of the Local Committee.

III. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTS:
TENTH ANNUAL MEETING

P. A. Shaffer, Secretary

The tenth annual meeting of the Biochem. Soc. was held in
Boston, Mass., on Dec. 26-29, 191 5, in the laboratories and lecttire
rooms of Harvard Med. Seh. Two scientific sessions were held in
conjunction with the other members of the Fed. Four independent
sessions were held. The following papers and titles were presented
at the independent sessions.

Scientific program. First session. Monday^ Dec. 27, 2.00
p. m. Walter Jones: Presidential address, Methods in biochem-
istry.

W. R. Bloor: Assimilation of fat. — V. H. Mottram: Fat Infil-
tration of cat kidney. — R. F. Ruttan and M. J. MarshaU: Composi-
tion of adipocere. — 0. R. Kline, C. C. Foiuler, M. E. Rehfuss and
P. B. Hazuk: Cholesterol content of blood serum and its diagnostic
significance. — P. 'A. Levene and C. J. West: Kephalin. — A. B.
Macalliim: Inorganic composition of cerebro-spinal fluid. — A. B.
Macalluni and /. B. Collip: Secretion of hydrochloric acid in the
peptic tubules. — L. J. Henderson: On voltime. — G. H. A. Cloives:
Analogous antagonistic effects exerted by salts of sodium, potas-
sium, calcium and magnesium on physical and biological Systems. —
A. E. Taylor and C. W. Miller: Bence- Jones protein.— ^. E. Austin:
Significance of the presence of bile in the fasting stomach. — A''. W.
Janney: Protein synthesis and metabolic diseases.

Second SESSION. TuESDAY, Dcc. 28, 9.00 a. m. P. A. Kober
and 5. 5". Graves: Proteins and their digestion: (I) Spontaneous
digestion of casein and edestin. — H. C. Bradley: Mechanism Con-
trolling autolysis. — Max Morse: Hydrogen-ion concentration in
autolysis.— //. H. Bunzel: Mode of action of oxidases.— F. /.
Harding and R. M. MacLean: Estimation of the course of protein
hydrolysis; a comparision of the Sörensen, Van Slyke and colori-
metric methods.— M. X. Sidlivan and Carl Voegtlin: Occurrence

38 Federation of American Biological Societies

in food of so-called vitamines and their Isolation. — E. C. Kendali:
Isolation in pure crystalline form of the active constituent of the
thyroid; its chemical natura and physiological activity. — H. C.
Sherman and D. E. Neun: Pancreatic amylase preparations. — P. H.
Mitchell: Causes of certain color-producing diseases in shell-fish. —
E. W. Rockwood: Diastase accelerators. — E. D. Clark and F. M.
Scales: Enzymes of a cellulose-destroying fungus from the soll,
Penicillinni pinophüum. — /. G. Mateer and E. K. Marshall, Jr.:
Urease content of certain beans, with special reference to the Jack
bean.

Third SESSION. Wednesday^ Dec. 29, 9.00 a. m. John How-
land, F. H. Haessler and W. McK. Marriott: Use of a new reagent
for micro-colorimetric analysis, as applied to the determination of
calcium and of inorganic phosphates in the blood serum. — /. O.
Halverson and Olaf Bergeini: Determination of calcium in blood.
— F. P. Underhill: Influence of alkali upon blood sugar-content. —
/. R. Miirlin and B. Kramer: Influence of alkali on the diabetes of
partially and totally depancreatized dogs. — A. I. Ringer: Diabetes:

(I) Influence of higher aldehydes on sugar elimination and acidoses ;

(II) Influence of acetaldehyde on the formation of aceto-acetic acid
in the perfused livers of diabetic dogs. — A. A. Epstein and George
Baehr: Influence of phloridzin on the formation of glycogen in the
liver. — C. M. Guion and >S. R. Benedict: Blood sugar in phloridzin
glycosuria. — Hiigh McGiiigan and E. L. Ross: Liver circulation in
relation to glycemia. — /. S. Kleiner and 5. /. Meltzer: Hypergly-
cemia and glycosuria produced by intravenous injections of mag-
nesium Sulfate in dogs. — A. W. Peters and Mary E. Tnrnbtdl:
Experimental and clinical studies on mental defectives : (II) Glyco-
suric reaction of Institution inmates in relation to nutritional and
pathological conditions. — Louis Baiimann: Origin and estimation
of creatin in muscle. — Max Morse: Creatin elimination in atrophy.
• — C. F. Langworthy: Respiration calorimeter for incubation ex-
periments with poultry eggs.

FOURTH SESSION. WeDNESDAY, Dcc. 29, 2.00 p. m. P.A.

Levene: Sphingomyelin. — R. S. Hubbard and P. A. Shaffer: De-
termination of /?-hydroxybutyric acid. — E. G. Miller, Jr. and W. J.
Gies: Internal secretions in their relation to the development and

Paul E. Howe 39

condition of the teeth : (4) Effects of parathyroidectomy. — /. 0.
Halverson, Olaf Bergeim and P. B. Hazvk: Complete metabolism
study of goitre with the effect of thyroid and thymus treatment. —
B. Kramer and /. Marker: Is the sugar retained under the influence
of sodium carbonate by depancreatized dogs stored as glycogen? —
H. H. Bimzel: Relative oxidase activity of different organs of the
same plant. — Otto Polin and W. Denis: Creatin and Creatinin
metabolism. — R. T. Woodyatt: Remarks on technique of phlorid-
zination. — W. A. Perlzzveig and W. J. Gies: Influence of deficient
diets on dentition: (2) Nutritive factors in the development of
teeth and bones, with special reference to the influence of hydro-
chloric acid and )8-hydroxybutyric acid in the diet, and the effects of
dietary deficiencies of calcium and phosphorus. — /. /. KU gier and
W. J. Gies: Relations of oral micro-organisms to dental caries
(2-4). — L. A. Shephard and W. J. Gies: Validity of Marshall's
salivary coefflcient as a means of diagnosis in dental caries. — E. G.
Miller, Jr., and W. J. Gies: Influence of food-acid media on natural
extracted teeth. — C. O. Johns and D. B. Jones: Protein of the Jack
bean, CanavaUa ensiformis. — G. A. Geiger, C. 0. Johns and Arno
Viehoever: Cedrin, a glucoside f rom seeds of Simaha cedron. — Arno
Viehoever, L. H. Chernoff and C. 0. Johns: Distribution of querci-
meritrin in the cotton plant, Gossypium herbaceuni; Saponin from
Yucca angustifolia. — C. 0. Johns, G. A. Geiger and Arno Vie-
hoever: Saponin from Yucca radiosa. — /. K. Phelps and H. Q.
Daiibt: Kjeldahl method for the determination of nitrogen. — /. F.
Brewster and C. L. Aisher g: Distribution of nitrogen in wheat,
Jack bean and cow-peas. — C. F. Langworthy: Digestibility of Kafir
corn and Indian cornmeal prepared for the table in the usual ways.
— M. X. Sullivan and Carl Voegtlin: Relation of lipoids to " vita-
mines."— C. C. Pozvler, M. E. Rehfuss and P. B. Hawk: Influence
of aqueous Solutions of certain substances upon gastric secretion.

Papers read by title. E. B. Hart and E. V. McCollmn:
Growth on strictly vegetable diets.—/. P. McClendon: Hydrogen-
ion concentration and "buffer" value of blood with new apparatus.
— Jacob Rosenbloom: Influence of low and high purin intake on the
excretion of uric acid and purins in gout. — Helen I. Mattill and H.
A. Mattill: Metabolie effects of bathing in the Great Salt Lake.—

40 Federation of American Biological Societies

C. P. Williamson and W. H. Welker: Hemoglobin : ( i ) Optical con-
stants. — C. P. Williamson and Grover Tracy: Nitrogen partition
in gout.

Executive proceedings. Constitution. Three amendments
to the Constitution were proposed by the Council of the society.
Amendment I was intended to enable the society to meet at another
time of the year, if in the future it should seem wise to do so.^
The amendment was as f ollows : " The annual meeting shall be held
at a time and place chosen by the Council in consultation with the
Exec. Commit. of the Fed. of Amer. Soc. for Exp. Biology."

Amendment II was intended to bring the Constitution into har-
mony with the conditions which have arisen since the formation of
the Fed. These changes involved a formal distinction between
executive meetings and scientific meetings not expressed in the
Constitution as it Stands.

Amendment III related to the number of votes required for the
adoption of an amendment to the Constitution. It involved a change
from " A three-fifths vote in the affirmative of the entire memher-
ship shall be required for the adoption of an amendment" to "Af-
firmative votes from three-fifths of the members voting shall be
required for the adoption of an amendment." Those in favor of
this amendment cite the opinion that it is practically impossible to
effect a change in the Constitution, no matter how essential it be,
because a failure to vote is a negative vote and there are possibly
some members of the society who take so small an interest in its
affairs that they fail to vote through neglect. It is contended, on
the other band, that essential changes might be brought about by a
very small minority of the members and that such changes could not
be regarded as representative of the sentiment of the society; for
that reason, if for no other, the proposed change should not be made.

The vote on the amendments to the Constitution was as f ollows :
Amendment 1 : 93 for, 2 against ; II : 92 for, i against ; III : 82 for,
16 against. There being 165 members in the society, 99 votes were
necessary for the adoption of an amendment and the amendments
were therefore lost.

1 See comment on this subject by Auer: Biochem. Bull., 1915, iv, p. 186
and Ibid., 1916, v, p. 44, of this issue. [Ed.]

Paul E. Howe 41

After general discussion it was unanimously agreed that the
members present express their condemnation of the present Situation
according to which proposals with such large support fail of adop-
tion ; that the amendments be again introduced f or action next year ;
and that the Secretary be directed to circularize the members and
take another vote on the proposals.

NoMENCLATURE OF LIPOIDS. The Commit. appointed some
years ago on the Classification and nomenclature of lipoids having
been unable to reach an agreement, and having failed to present a
report, was discharged and the matter dropped for the present.

" Bulletin 28." The Secretary was directed to request the
Secretary of the U. S. Dep. of Agric. to revise and republish Bull.
28 on the " Chemical composition of American food materials."

Physiological Abstracts. The society voted to extend its
Cooperation and moral support to the British Physiol. Soc. in the
publication, by the British Soc, of the proposed Physiological
Abstracts.

Vote of Thanks. The thanks of the society were expressed
to the Harvard authorities and members of the Local Commit. for
their generous hospitality during the meetings.

New Members : R. J. Anderson, N. Y. Agr. Exp. Sta. ; N. R.
Blatherwick, U. S. Dep't of Agric, Washington, D. C; M. H.
Givens, U. S. Treas. Dep't, Pellagra Hosp., Spartanburg, S. C. ;
Samuel Goldschmidt, Johns Hopkins Univ. ; V. J. Harding, McGill
Univ., Canada; /. .S. Hepburn, U. S. Dep't of Agric, Phila. ; John
Howland, Johns Hopkins Univ.; F. B. Kingsbury, Univ. Minn. ;
R. A. Kocher, Univ. Calif. ; 6^. /. Meltner, Rockefeiler Inst; H. 0.
Mosenthal, Geo. Peirce, Johns Hopkins Univ. ; E. L. Scott, Colum-
bia Univ. ; H. Wasteneys, Rocke feller Inst. ; Ruth Wheeler, Univ.
111.; D. W. Wilson, Johns Hopkins Univ.

Officers-elect. President, Walter Jones; vice-president, F.
P. Underhill; secretary, 5". R. Benedict; treasurer, D. D. Van
Slyke; additional meml^ers of the Council, Otto Polin, A. B. Mac-
allum, P. A. Shaffer; Nominating Commit., C. L. Aisberg, H. C.
Bradley, W. J. Gies, Andrew Hunt er, P. A. Levene, A. P. Matheivs,
L. B. Mendel, T. B. Osborne, A. E. Taylor.

Comment. Presentation of papers. In spite of the large

42 Federation of American Biological Societies

attendance at this meeting the success of the program was serlously
interfered with, as it was last year, by the failure to appear of a
number of the members who had announced papers for the sessions.
The Secretary beheves that members should refrain from offering
papers unless they are reasonably sure to attend the meeting; and,
if circumstances prevent their attendance, the Secretary should be
notified as promptly as possible. Failure to do so on the part of
some of the members has repeatedly caused confusion and incon-
venience.

Attendance. J. J. Abel, H. M. Adler, Samuel Amberg, A. E.
Austin, Louis Baumann, F. G. Benedict, S. R. Benedict, W. N.
Berg, Olaf Bergeim, W. R. Bloor, T. M. Carpenter, G. H. A. Clowes,
W. H. Eddy, K. G. Falk, C. H. Fiske, Otto Folin, Samuel Gold-
schmidt, Isidor Greenwald, V. J. Harding, R. A. Hatcher, P. B.
Hawk, L. J. Henderson, J. S. Hepburn, A. D. Hirsch f eider, P. E.
Howe, W. H. Howell, Reid Hunt, N. W. Janney, Walter Jones,
E. C. Kendall, F. B. Kingsbury, I. S. Kleiner, Benjamin Kramer,
R. S. Lillie, Jacques Loeb, A. S. Loevenhart, A. P. Lothrop, Gra-
ham Lusk, A. B. Macallum, E. V. McCollum, F. H. McCrudden,
J. J. R. Macleod, W. deB. MacNider, W. McK. Marriott, E. K.
Marshall, Jr., S. J. Meltzer, L. B. Mendel, V. H. Mottram, J. R.
Murlin, V. C. Myers, F. G. Novy, George Peirce, A. W. Peters,
A. N. Richards, A. I. Ringer, E. W. Rockwood, R. F. Ruttan, E.
L. Scott, F. H. Scott, P. A. Shafifer, Torald Sollmann, M. X. Sul-
livan, A. E. Taylor, F. P. Underhill, D. D. Van Slyke, Carl Voegtlin,
H. G. Wells.

IV. AMER. SOC. FOR PHARMACOL. AND EXP. THERAP. :

SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING

John Auer, Secretary

The seventh annual session of the PhaiTnacol. Soc. was held in
Boston, at the Harvard Med. Seh., on Dec. 27-29, 1915. Three
independent sessions were held in addition to the two Joint meet-
ings with the other members of the Federation, At these sessions
the following papers were read.

Paul E. Howe 43

Scientific program. First session. Monday, Dec. 27, 2.00
p. m. C. J. IViggers: Effects of drugs on auricular Systole and
their consequent effect on ventricular efficiency. — /. H. Pratt and
C. Wesselhoeft: Potency of digitalis preparations. — William Solant

and A. E. Livingston: Influence of iodine on the heart. /. D.

Pilcher: Effect of certain drugs on the excised Uterus in guinea
pigs. — /. Alter and S. J. Meltzer: Magnesium sulfate and reflex
deglutition. — L. B. Mendel and T. B. Osborne: Stability of the
growth-promoting substance in butter fat. — W. H. Schultz: Lipoids.
— S. Amberg, A. S. Loevenhart and W. B. McClure: Mustard-oil
inflammation. — P. A. Lewis: Distribution of trypan red to the tissues
and vessels of the eye, as influenced by congestion and early inflam-
mation. — T. S. Githens and 6^. /. Meltzer: Is the pupil dilatation
from adrenaHn following gangliectomy due to vasodilatation? —
William Salant and R. O. Bengis: Absorption and ehmination of
different dyes.

Second SESSION. TuESDAY, Dec. 28, 9.00 a. m. W. de B. Mac-
Nider: Inhibition of the toxicity of anesthetics in the nephropathic
kidney. — D. E. Jackson: Anesthesia and analgesia. — G. H. Martin,
C. H. Bnnting and A. S. Loevenhart: Morphological changes in the
tissues of the rabbit as a result of reduced oxidations. — E. Wood-
ward and C. L. Aisberg: Relation of the hemolytic power to the
surface tension of saponin solutions. — C. W. Edmunds and M. L
Smith: Nicotin tolerance. — G. B. Roth and Carl Voegtlin: Effects
of the prolonged feeding of aluminum. — L. G. Rozuntree and R. L.
Levy: Toxicity of various commercial preparations of emetin hy-
drochloride. — R. J. Collins: Clinical actions of veratrum. — 5. Am-
berg and H. F. Heimholte: Detoxifying action of sodium salts upon
potassium salts after intravenous injection. — B. H. Schloniowitn
and C. S. Chase: Influence of temperature on the onset of strych-
nine convulsions in the intact frog.

Third SESSION, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 9.00 a. m. R. W.
Scott, T. W. Thoburn and P. J. Hanzlik: Salicyl in blood and Joint
fluid of individuals receiving füll therapeutic doses of salicylate;
Excretion of salicyl in the urine of rheumatic and non-rheumatic
individuals. — K. G. Falk and K. Sugiura: Elimination of hexa-
methylenetetramin (urotropin). — H. G. Barbour, L. L. Maurer and

44 Federation of American Biological Societies

W. C. v. Glahn: Paraoxyphenylethylamin as a morphin antagonist.
— H. G. Barbour: Action of some derivatives of phenylethylamin.
— Worth Haie: Comparative action of the chief alkaloids of cin-
chona. — William Salant and L. E. Wise: Fate of sodiiim citrate in
the body. — William. Salant and A. E. Livingston: Pharmacological
action of oil of chenopodium. — R. J. Collins and P. J. Hanzlik:
Colorimetric method for the estimation of free formaldehyde. —
P. J. Hanzlik: SaHcyluric acid.

Paper read by title. R. Weil: Anaphylatoxin theory of
anaphylaxis.

Executive proceedings. Physiological abstracts. A unan-
imous acceptance was voted in response to the invitation of the
British Physiol. Soc. to cooperate with it in the publication of a new
Journal of abstracts, by having the name of the society appear on
the title-page of this Journal as a co-operative society.

New members : R. J. Collins, Western Reserve Univ. Med.
Seh. ; /. F. Corbett, Univ. of Minn. ; 0. Folin, Harvard Med. Seh. ;
R. J. Hoskins, Northwestern Univ. Med. Seh.; Paul D. Lamson,
R. L. Levy, Johns Hopkins Med. Seh. ; C. C. Lieb, Columbia Univ. ;
E. K. Marshall, Jr., D. I. Macht, Johns Hopkins Med. Seh. ; Louise
Pearce, Rockefeiler Inst. ; Richard Weil, Cornell Univ. Med. Seh.

Officers-elect : President, Reid Hunt; secretary, /. Auer;
treasurer, W. de B. MacNider; additional members of the Council,
A. D. Hirschfelder, G. B. Roth; Membership Commit., C. W.
Edmunds (term expires 1918), Torald Sollmann (term expires
1916).

General comment.^ Time of Meeting. Considerable inter-
est was shown this year in the time of meeting for, as usual, a num-
ber of the members were compelled to sacrifice at least a part of

1 Before making any comments, the Secretary hastens to state that the fol-
lowing remarks have no official Warrant for their existence, and are purely per-
sonal opinions. This fact should not discourage those who love to go gunning
for secretaries, as the season is always open for them. Moreover all secretaries
soon learn to endure a charge of verbal or written salt with a fine equanimity,
for they all know Aesop's fable of the ass. Indeed, a course as secretary can be
recommended to the sensitive as an excellent means of producing an astonishing
integumental Induration. (Should any thin-skinned individual wish to try this
therapeutic measure, a mild initial course should be chosen, but not, for example,
the secretaryship of the Biochemical Society.)

Paul E. Howe 45

Christmas day itself in traveling; and for a still larger number the
Holidays were seriously marred by the necessity of being away from
home for several days. The dissatisfaction caused by this interfer-
ence with the most intimate of our holidays is not the only reason
why the advisability of changing the meeting time should be seri-
ously considered. There are others, for example, the instability of
the weather, with its combination of rain, sleet, and snow, diiring
the December sessions, is a menace to the health not only of the
elderly but of all who are dependent for the time upon hotel ac-
commodations and the contents of a suitcase.

To remedy this condition radically is difficult, for it would mean
a shifting of the meeting time to a more dement season. This,
however, is forbidden by constitutional provisions in three of the
societies, the time set being between Dec. 25 and Jan. lo.^ A con-
stitutional amendment of this clause is by no means a hopeless
undertaking, and the venture has already been made by the Biochem.
Soc. The negative result scored in this society must not, however,
be taken as a condemnation of the proposed change, but must be
ascribed to the especially great difficulty of fulfilling the require-
ments for a change in its Constitution. The amendment proposed
by the Biochemists seems a model which all the societies would do
well to adopt; it is as follows:

" The annual meeting shall be held at a time and place chosen by
the Council in consultation with the Exec. Commit. of the Fed. of
Amer. Societies for Exp. Biology."

Palliative treatment of the Christmas-meeting evil has already
been instituted. The secretary of the Fed. was instructed, at the
last meeting of the Exec. Commit., to arrange that the scientific ses-
sions begin on such a date that Christmas day would be spared to a
majority of the members.

Dinners. While all societies appreciate the hospitality of the
university authorities who house the scientific sessions of the Fed.,
it is perhaps doubtful whether the labors of the Local Commit. are
appraised at their füll worth by the members who enjoy the results

2 The Physiol. Soc. meets, according to the Constitution, between Dec. 25
and Jan. i ; the Biochem. Soc. between Dec. 25 and Jan. 10; the Pharmacol. Soc.
between Dec. 25 and Jan. i. The Pathol. Soc, however, states in its Constitution
that it shall meet at the same time and place as the other societies in the Fed.

46 Federation of American Biological Societies

of this committee's work. However this may be, certainly no one
wishes to add to their burdens and yet such an abuse may occur.
In the arrangement of dinners and luncheons a certain sum of
money must usually be guaranteed to the hotel or caterer. If the
sale of luncheon or dinner tickets falls short of this sum, the deficit
must be met by the Local Commit. This is manifestly unjust; the
shortage ought to be borne by the societies or, if this is impossible
(the Constitution!), by the Councils of the various societies.

Another undemocratic practice has developed in connection with
the dinner which usually terminates the meeting of the Exec. Com-
mit. and to which all members of the various Councils usually are
invited. Heretofore the expenses of this always delightful occasion
have apparently been defrayed by the local members of the Council.
It is hardly open to question that this privilege should be denied
them; each member who has the honor of attending this dinner
should pay for his cover, just as at the general subscription dinners.

Joint sessions. Only two Joint sessions could be arranged this
year on account of the large number of papers which were an-
nounced. If the influx of titles continues at the same rate of growth,
Joint sessions will become impossible in the future unless the sessions
are increased in number. While there is apparently some diversity
of opinion about the desirability of Joint sessions, it seems fairly
certain to the writer, at least, that their advantages more than com-
pensate for their drawbacks.

Question of Privilege. A number of members of the Fed.
have inquired whether they have the privilege of discussing papers
in those societies of which they are not members. This point was
raised too late to obtain a ruling from the societies, but should be
taken under advisement as soon as possible ; a priori^ it would seem
that no objection could be found against the granting of this priv-
ilege.

Attendance, The Boston sessions were very well attended;
at the opening Joint Session the large amphitheatre of Building
C was practically filled to capacity. The cross-circulation be-
tween the four societies was also well developed, and many mem-
bers attended parts of sessions of all the societies. It would be
desirable if some plan could be devised whereby each society could

Paul E. Howe 47

be kept informed of the progress of the program in every other
Society. It will be remembered that this was attempted at the
Washington Univ. meeting in 1914.

Meeting place in 1916. The Pharmacol. Society and the
other three members of the Fed. will meet in 1916 in New York
City with the Amer. Assoc. for the Adv. of Science. At this meet-
ing not only the A. A. A. S. and the Fed., but in all likelihood every
scientific society in the U. S. will be represented, and N. Y. City will
probably see the greatest gathering of scientific men that has ever
occurred on this continent.

Vote of Thanks. A motion was made, seconded and unani-
mously carried, that a vote of thanks be extended to the Harvard
authorities and to the Local Commit. for their hospitable Services,
which contributed so largely to the success of the meetings.

(See p. 30 for additional general comment on the affairs of the
Fed.)

V, AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY:
THIRD ANNUAL MEETING

Peyton Rous, Secretary

The Pathol. Soc. held two independent scientific meetings in
addition to participation in the Joint meetings of the Fed.

Scientific program. First session. Monday_, Dec. 27, 2.00
p. m. Presiding officer: S. J. Meltzer (in the absence of the
Pres, and vice-Pres.).

Hans Zinsser and /. G. Hopkins: Syphilis immunity. — H. C.
Schmeisser: Spontaneous and experimental leukemia of the fowl. —
Theobald Smith: Localization of the schizont in coccidiosis. — Emil
Goetsch: Occurrence of gastric mucosa in Meckel's diverticulum.
— H. T. Karsner and /. E. Dwight, Jr.: Experimental bland infarc-
tion of the myocardium ; myocardial regeneration and cicatrization.
— P. D. Lamson: Influence of the liver on polycythemia. — L. H.
Newhurgh: Respiratory mechanism is experimental pneumonia. —
B. S. Kline and S. J. Meltzer: Production of typical pneumonic
lesions by intrabronchial insufflation of unorganized substances.

Second SESSION. TuESDAY, Dcc. 28, 9.00 a. m. Presiding
officer: H. G. Wells (vice-pres. elect).

48 Federation of American Biological Societies

C. W. Diival: Effects of desiccation of the virus of hog cholera
and the use of this material in immunization. — W. G. Sniillie:
Streptococcus of Smith. — P. A. Lezvis and R. B. Krauss: Influence
of certain organic substances on the growth of the tubercle bacillus.
— M. J. Rosenau: Experiments on poliomyelitis. — E. C. Cutler:
Torula infections. — David Marine: Permanence of thyroid trans-
plants in rabbits. — Hideyo Noguchi: Recently discovered spiro-
chetosis prevalent in Japan. — F. G. Novy and P. H. De Kriiif:
Anaphylatoxin. — A. E. Taft: Cell reactions in the spinal cord in
acute anterior poliomyelitis.

Executive proceedings. Physiological Abstracts. The
invitation of Dr. Bayliss, of the Physiol. Soc. (England), that the
Amer. Soc. for Exp. Path. lend its name to the title page of the new
English publication, Physiological Abstracts, as cooperating with it,
was accepted.

Officers-elect : President, Simon Flexner; vice-president, H.
G. Wells; secretary-treasurer, Peyton Rous; councillor (through
an oversight a new councillor to succeed David Marine was not
elected).

New Members. No new members were elected.

Members present. Harvey Cushing, C. W. Duval, D. L.
Edsall, H. T. Karsner, P. A. Lewis, Leo Loeb, W. G. MacCallum,
W. H. Manwaring, David Marine, S. J. Meltzer, J. B. Murphy, H.
Noguchi, F. G. Novy, M. J. Rosenau, E. C. Rosenow, Peyton Rous,
Theobald Smith, G. N. Stewart, R. P. Strong, H. G. Wells, Hans
Zinsser.

Laboratory of Biological Chemistry of Columbia University,
College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.

BIOCHEMICAL NEWS, NOTES AND COMMENT
Editorial sub-committee :

BENJAMIN HOROWITZ,

WILLIAM J. GIES, HATTIE L. HEFT, JOSEPH S. HEPBURN,
PAUL E. HOWE, EDGAR G. MILLER, JR.

Contents.— (I). General: Necrology, 49; retirement, 49; appointments, 49;
honors, 50; lectures and addresses, 50; prizes, 51; medals, 51; associations, so-
cieties, etc., 51; journalistic, 52; miscellaneous items, 53.

(II). War Notes: University items, 55; Recovery of wounded, 55; miscel-
laneous items, 55.

(III). Col. Univ. Biochem. Assoc: (i) General notes — appointments, 56;
associations and societies, 56; (2) Proc. of the Assoc. — 25th meeting, 56; fifth
annual dinner, 56; (3) Columbia Biochem. Dep't — appointments, 56; associations
and societies, 56; new Ph.D., 57; memorial library, 57; address, 57.

I. GENERAL

Necrology. H. Dchus, prof. of ehem., Royal Naval Coli.,
Greenwich; lect. on ehem., Guy's Hosp. — Eugene W. Hilgard,
prof. of agric., Univ. Cal. (1875-1904), distinguished for his eon-
tributions to agrieultural ehem. — Raphacl Meldola, prof. of ehem.,
Finsbury Coli., London. — Charles V. Mapes, industrial agric. ehem-
ist, N. Y. City. — Isaac Ott, prof. of physiol., Medico-Chi. Coli.,
Phila. — Henry E. Roscoe, ehemist and emer. prof., Univ. Man-
chester. — U. Rose, instr. in internal med., Univ. of Strassburg. —
F. Tauszk, privat-doc. of internal med., Univ. Budapest. — Jules
Ville, prof. med. ehem., Faculte de Montpellier. — Anton Vorisek,
prof. of anal, ehem., N. Y. Coli, of Pharm. — Rudolf A. Witthaus,
prof. of ehem. and toxicol., Cornell Univ. Med. Coli.

Retirement. Königsberg: Dr. Albert Stutzer, prof. of agric.
ehem., will retire from active service at the close of the present
Semester.

Appointments.^ Boston Floating Hosp. : Dr. Alfred W. Bos-
worth (assoc. ehem., N. Y. Agric. Exp. Sta.), chief dep't biol.
ehem.

^ In this summary, institutions from which appointments were made are
named in parenthesis. See also page 56.

49

50 Biochemical News, Notes and Comment

Bromberg (Germany) : Dr. Hugo Fischer, act. head, ehem. and
bacteriol. dep't, Kaiser Wilhelm Inst, for Agric.

Squibb and Sons (New Brunswick, N. J.) : Dr. John F. Ander-
son (direc, Hygienic Lab., U. S. Public Health Service), direc,
research and biolog. lab's.

Univ. of Minn., Med. Seh. : Dr. Leonard Rowntree (assoc.
prof. of med., Johns Hopkins), prof. of med.

Washington Univ., Med. Seh. : Dr. Leo Loeh, prof. of comp,
pathol. ; Dr. P. A. Shajfer (prof. of physiol. ehem.), dean.

Western Reserve Univ., Med. Seh. (Cleveland) : C. H. Fiske
(Harvard Univ.), assoc. in biochem.

Honors. Hon. degrees. Dr. Frits Haber (direc, Kaiser
Wilhelm Inst, for Physiol.) and Dr. Karl Bosch (Baden Anilin
Works), hon. doetorates, Karlsruhe Tech. Seh.

Prof. W. A. Pearson (Hahnemann Med. Coli, Phila.), hon.
M.D., Hahnemann Med. Coli, of the Pacific.

Faculty Research Lecturer. Dr. F. P. Gay, prof. of pathol.,
Univ. of Cal., has been chosen by his colleagues of the Univ. of
Cal. as faculty research lecturer for 191 6. He will give this annual
public address on some of the results of his own research, at the
Univ. of Cal. on the evening of Charter Day, Mar. 23, 1916. He
was selected in reeognition of his recent work in developing im-
proved methods for the treatment of pneumonia, and for the treat-
ment of typhoid fever by the use of sensitized vaeeine; for his re-
searches, in collaboration with Dr. Edith J. Claypole, in the field of
immunization against typhoid ; and for his development, in assoei-
ation with Dr. J. N. Force, of a skin test of immunity against
typhoid.

Complimentary DINNER. Harvard Club, N. Y. City, Jan. 12 :
By the Faculty of N. Y. Univ. and Bellevue Hosp. Med. Coli., to
Prof. V. C. Vaiighan.

HoNORARY MEMBERSHip. Dr. P. A. Lcvcnc has been elected
an honorary member of Rega Societas Scientiarum Upsaliensis.

Lectures. Endowed lectures. Coli, of Phys., Phila. ; Thir-
teenth Rush Soc. Lect., Jan. 21: Dr. F. M. Allen, Investigative
and scientific phases of the diabetic question, with their probable
relations to praetical problems of clinieal medieine.

Royal Soc. (London) ; Croonian Lect., Dec. 9, '15 : Dr. W. M.

General

51

Fletcher and Prof. F. G. Hopkins, Respiratory process in muscle,
and the nature of muscular action.

MiscELLANEOUS LECTURES. Amer. Assoc. Adv., Science (Co-
lumbus) : General lect., Dr. F. K. Gameron, Fertilizer resources of
the U. S.

Coli. City of New York; Dec. 22, '15: Dr. K. G. Falk, The
electron conception of valence.

Prizes. Le Conte prize of the French Acad. of Sciences,
$10,000: Sir Almroth Wright, for his share in the introduction of
systematic vaccination against typhoid. — Nobel Prize^ Chem.,
191 5: Richard Willstätter, for his researches on Chlorophyll. —
Nobel Prize, Chem., 1914:7. W. Richards, for his work on atomic
weights.

In commemoration of the centennial of the independence of
Argentina, 1816-1916, the Acad. de Med. offers a prize of 2,500
pesos for the best unpublished work on a med. subject presented at
the Congr. of Social Sciences to be held at Tocyman, Argentina,
July 9, 19 16. This prize is open to any American member of the
Congress.

Medals. Copley medal, Royal Soc, London: Ivan F. Pavlov,
For his investigations in the physiol. of digestion and secretion. —
Davy medal, Royal Soc, London : Paul Sabbatier, for his work on
catalysis and hydrogenation. — Leeuwenhoeck gold medal, Royal
Acad. of Sciences, Amsterdam (every ten years in recognition of
the most important work done during the decade on the microscop-
ical organisms first discovered by Leeuwenhoeck in 1675) : Surgeon-
General Sir David Bruce. — Moxon gold medal, Royal Coli, of
Physicians, London (every three years to the scientist whose ob-
servations and researches in clinical med. are deemed to render him
most worthy of this distinction) : Dr. Dejerine (prof. of diseases
of the nervous System at the Faculte de med., Paris). This is the
first time the medal has been awarded to any but an English clini-
cian. — Perkin medal, Soc. Chem. Industry : Dr. L. H. Baekeland.

Associations, societies, etc.: Ofificers-elect. Amer. Assoc.
Clinical Research. Pres., Warren Coleman; first vice-p., Wm.
B. Snow; second vice-p., L. T. Aschraft; perm. sec. James Kraus,

Amer. Physiol. Soc. See page 2>?,-

52 Biochemical News, Notes and Comment

Amer. Phytopathol. Soc. Pres., Erwin F. Smith; vice-p.,
Mel. T. Cook; sec.-treas., C. L. Shear; councillors, F. D. Kern,
E. C. Stakman (vice Mel. T. Cook). Editor of Phytopathology,
W, A. Orton; assoc. ed., H. T. Gussozv, C. W. Ed gerton, E. C.
Stakman, V. B. Stewart.

Amer. Soc. für Exp. Pathology. See page 47.

Amer. Soc. of Biol. Chemists. See page 37.

Amer. Soc. of Naturalists. Pres., R. Pearl; vice-p., A. F.
Blakeslee; sec, B. M. Davis; treas., /. A. Harris; additional mem-
bers, exec. commit., E. M. Fast, H. V. Wilson, F. R. Lillie.

Amer. Soc. Pharmacol. Exp. Therapeutics, See page 42.

Fed, Amer. Soc. Exp. Biol. See page 28.

N. Y. Acad. of Sciences, Sect. Astron., Phys. and Chem. : E. E.
Smith, chairman.

Royal Soc, London. Pres., Sir /. /. Thomson; treas., Sir A. B.
Kempe; sec's, A. Schuster, W. B. Hardy; foreign sec, D. H. Scott.

Soc. Amer. Bacteriologists. Pres., T. J. Biirrill.

Members-elect. See page-references above.

Univ. of Penn. Chapt., Sigma Xi. Non-resident : Henry Leff-
mann, C. B. Cochran (chemist, Dairy and Food Commis., Penn.)
Faculty: L. A. Klein (prof. of pharmacol., Dean of the Fac, of
Vet. Med.)

Journalistic. The editorial offices of the Joiir. Amer. Phar-
maceut. Assoc. have been removed to the Bourse, Phila., Pa.

The N. Y. Jour. of Pharmacy, published by the Alumni Assoc,
N. Y. Coli, of Pharm., lately began its 23d vol. in new form and
dress, and with a new name: " C.U.C.P. Alumni Journal." Dr.
C. P. Wimmer is succeeded, in the editorship, by Dr. Jeannot Host-
mann. Drs. H. H. Rusby, G. C. Diekman and H. V. Arny are the
" contributing editors."

Jour. Pharmacol. Exp. Therap. Beginning with Jan., 1916,
the Jour. Pharmacol. and Exp. Therap. will be issued in monthly
installments, instead of bi-monthly as heretofore. This change is
made necessary by the increased number of papers offered to the
editors for publication. The price of the Journal will be as here-
tofore, $5.00, post free, per volume of about six hundred pages.

General

53

For the present, it is planned that eight or nine numbers shall con-
stitute a volume.

Miscellaneous items. Endowed professorship and fellow-
SHiP IN PHYSiOLOGY. Dr. Isaac Ott, prof. of physiol., Medico-Chi
Coli, of Phila., died at Easton, Pa., Jan i, 1916. He was a for-
mer President of the Amer. Neurol. Sog., and noted for his work
on ductless glands and on the heat centers of the brain. By his
death, under the will of his mother, a sum of money becomes avail-
able for the endowment of the Isaac Ott Prof. of Physiol. in the
Medico-Chi. Coli. Under his own will, the Univ. of Penn, will
ultimately receive an endowment for the foundation of the Isaac
Ott Research Fellowship in Physiology.

Function of milk. The milks of difTerent species are not
readily interchangeable because the proteins have functions in help-
ing to develop such radically different digestive apparatuses. From
a nutritional Standpoint milks do not differ very markedly, but in
developmental quality they are far apart. This fonns a very good
additional reason why every human mother should, if possible,
nurse her own Infant. The higher mortality following artificial
feeding is thus not the only reason in favor of maternal nursing.
In the former case by using milk of another species — the cow — we
put a hard-curdling milk into a stomach intended and adapted for a
soft, flocculent curd. This is not only the cause of much Indigestion,
but such Substitution falls adequately to carry out one of the func-
tions that milk was intended ( !) to per form in the scheme of evolu-
tion — namely, in each species specially to develop certain parts of
the gastro-intestinal tract that must later perform most of the work
of digestion. H. D. Chapin : Scientific Monthly, 1916, Ixxvii, p. 2.

Dr. C. W. Eliot on the importance of biological chem-
ISTRY. The fruits of the biological sciences — botany, zoology, physi-
ology and biochemistry, applied to curative medicine and surgery
and to preventive medicine and sanitation — have been direct contri-
butions to human weif are; because they have provided defenses
against disease, premature death, and individual and family distress
and suffering. The beneficent appHcations of biological science,
unlike most of the large results of applied chemistry and physics,
take effect in the field of human afifections and family experiences,

54 Biochemical News, Notes and Comment

make life less anxious and more eiijoyable for multitudes o£ human
beings, mitigate or abolish ancient agonies and dreads o£ the race,
and promise for it a happier future. Science: 191 5, xlii, p. 920.

The progress of biochemistry and bacteriology has already
enabled civiHzed governments to do much for the protection of their
people from injury by foods not fit for consumption and by aduUer-
ated drugs. This is a branch of the public-health Service which is
capable of large extension hereafter. The efficiency of the methods
now used will be greatly increased; and tliey will be used in new
fields. Science: 191 5, xlii, p. 923.

Biologists are nozv realizing that biochemistry nmst furnish the
fundamental knowledge of the processes which incessantly go on in
the healthy body, and must also provide the exact knowledge of
those changes in the normal processes zvhich lead to disease and,
death. The physician and the sanitarian have become accustomed
to the beneficial use of remedies and defenses which chemistry at
present can neither analyze nor synthesize; such, for example, as
diphtheria antitoxin ; but they are aware that this condition of their
art is unsatisfactory and ought not to be permanent. The animal
body consists of well-known chemical substances, and its functions
depend on chemical reactions. Digestion is largely a chemical proc-
ess. The animal body consists of innumerable cells in great variety,
each of which acts under chemical and physical laws. Hence the
belief of the biologist of today that chemistry — analytical, struc-
tural and physical — can and will come to the aid of the science and
art of medicine in the large sense, and will ultimately enable biolog-
ical science to comprehend the vital processes in health and disease,
and to penetrate what are now the secrets of life and death. Sci-
ence: 1915, xlii, p. 929.

Dr. C. W. Eliot on pure science and applied science. The
pure scientist often feels, and not infrequently expresses, contempt
for applications of science and for the men that make them. Some-
times the seeker for valuable applications of scientific knowledge
feels no interest whatever in researches of which no industrial ap-
plication seems feasible or probable, and confesses publicly this lack
of interest. The facts seem to be that all such feelings are narrow
and irrational; that no mortal can teil how soon a practical applica-

War Notes 55

tion of a scientific truth, which seems pure in the sense that it has no
present application, may be discovered ; and that, on the other hand,
innumerable applications are nowadays made of truths which five
years or fifty years ago seemed as remote from all human interests
as the Observation attributed to Thaies, that a bit of amber rubbed
with a piece of silk would repel pith-balls suspended by fine fila-
ments. Yet all magnetism and electricity with their infinite appli-
cations hark back to this experiment by Thaies and to Galvani's
Observation of twitchings in a frog's legs. Science: 19 15, xlii,
p. 928.

IL WAR NOTES

Univ. item. About 1200 past and present students and mem-
bers of the staff of the Imperial Coli, of Science and Tech., London,
are serving with the forces.

Recovery of wounded soldiers and return to the ranks. The
Münch. med. Woch. quotes a Russian daily to the effect that there
is great complaint in Russia because only 18 percent of the wounded
soldiers recover sufficiently to return to the ranks, while the Ger-
mans report that 60 percent are returned to the front. The Rus-
sians regard this ratio, 60 to 18, as testifying to the superior tech-
nical skill of the Germans in treating the wounded.

Miscellaneous items. A number of German physicians and
pharmacists, taken prisoners by the British in Southwestern Africa,
have been exchanged for a corresponding number of British medical
men in German hands.

The landslide in the Panama canal has interfered with the ex-
port to England of sodium nitrate, from Chile, by prolonging the
time of the voyage. English scientists urge the Substitution of
artificial calcium nitrate.

In an address on " Science and the War," before the Leeds Med.
Seh., Sir William Osler said : " In the war my Lady Science is busy
both ways. She employs artists in death and artists in life; she
supplies them — so impartial are abstractions — with asphyxiating
gases and with antiseptic dressings; she manufactures with equal
mind high explosives and protective vaccines, submarines and
motor-ambulances. What a thing it is to be an abstraction, a name
for systematized thought; to have no niorals, no likes or dislikes;

$6 Biochemical News, Notes and Comment'

to be nothing but a Latin word for the best way of doing what is to
be done."

III. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY BIOCHEMICAL ASSOCIATION

I. General notes

Appointment.2 Princeton Univ. : E. Newton Harvey, assis.
prof. of physiol. (promotion).

Associations and societies. Officers-elect. Dr. C. L. Als-
herg: member, Nom. Commit., Amer. Soc. Biol. Chem.

Prof. 5". R. Benedict: sec'y, Amer. Soc. Biol. Chem.

Dr. C. Stuart Gager: sec'y, Council, Amer. Assoc. Adv. Science.

Prof. A. B. Macalliim: member, Council, Amer. Soc. Biol. Chem.

Prof. L. B. Mendel: member, Nom. Commit., Amer. Soc. Biol.
Chem.

Prof. A. N. Richards: sec'y, Soc. of Normal and Path. Physiol.
(Phila.)

Members-elect. Prof. A. J. Gold färb, fellow, N. Y. Acad. of
Sciences.

Dr. Joseph S. Hephurn: member, Amer. Soc. Biol. Chem.

Dr. John Howland: member, Amer. Soc. Biol. Chem.

Prof. C. C. Lieh: member, Amer. Soc. for Pharmacol. and Exp.
Therap.

Dr. S. J. Meltzer: member, Amer. Soc. Biol. Chem.

Dr. H. O. Mosenthal: member, Amer. Soc. Biol. Chem.

Dr. E. L. Scott: member, Amer. Soc. Biol. Chem.

2. Proceedings of the Association

The 25th meeting will be held on Feb. 4.

The fifth annual dinner will be given at the Hotel Majestic, on
Feb. 10, in honor of Prof. A. B. Macallum, Univ. of Toronto.

3. Columbia University Biochemical Department

Appointments. From the staff. Columbia Univ. (Pres-
byterian Hosp.) : ICatherine R. Coleman, clinical chemist.

To the staff. Dr. Walter M. Kraus (Bellevue Hospital),
instructor.

2 See also page 49.

Columbia University Biochemical Association 57

Sydney D. Kramer (American Mus. Natural Hist.), assistant.

Grace Sheets, assistant (Teachers College), vice Katherine R.
Coleman (see note above).

Associations and societies. Officers-elect. Prof. Wm. J.
Gies, member, Nom. Commit., Amer. Soc. Biol. Chem.

Dr. Victor E. Levine: sec'y, N. Y. Acad. of Sciences, Sect.
Astron., Physics and Chem.

Members-elect. Prof. Wm. J. Gies, non-resident member,
Franklin Inst., Phila.

Dr. Victor E. Levine, fellow, N, Y. Acad. of Sciences.

Dr. H. Wasteneys: member, Amer. Soc. Biol. Chem.

New Doctor of Philosophy. Edward Plaut recently fulfilled
the requirements for the Ph.D. degree. His major and minor sub-
jects were organic, biological, and organic chemistry, respectively.
Dissertation: The synthesis of certain substituted syringic acids.

Memorial Library. Dr. Edward Plaut has given, to Prince-
ton Univ., $5000 for the establishment there of the Albert Plaut
Memorial Library of Chemistry, in memory of his father.

Address. Prof. Gies was one of the Speakers at the annual
dinner of the First District Dental Society of the State of New
York, at the Hotel Astor, Jan. 22.

EDITORIALS

WILLIAM J. GIES

Beginning with this issue, the Biochemical Bulletin becomes
a monthly. Practically all the many mechanical obstacles in the
way of prompt distribution of the numbers in preceding volumes

Biochemical have been diie to the comparative infrequency,
Bulletin: and the corresponding bulk, of quarterly publi-

Past, present, future cation. We anticipate not only regularity in
monthly issuance of the Biochemical Bulletin,, but also contin-
ued improvement in the quality of the numbers, and in the timeliness
of the personal and professional "news items" that will remain one
of the Bulletin's general features.

Coincident with this change in character, from a quarterly to a
monthly Journal, there has been an effective reorganization in the
editorial office. A special and systematic effort will be made regu-
larly to obtain " news items " from every biochemical laboratory
in this country and abroad, in Order that the Bulletin may mirror
biochemical events in the most complete and faithful manner, to the
credit and advancement of biochemistry.

The difficulties which have persistently enforced delay in the dis-
tribution of the successive numbers of the Biochemical Bulletin
made it impossible to publish the first issue of Vol. IV (March)
before last June. The June and September numbers of Vol. IV
are in press and will be issued together in the course of a f ew days ;
the December number is in type and will follow soon thereafter.
Instead of permitting the excessive delay in the publication of these
back numbers to embarrass our purpose to issue the Biochemical
Bulletin monthly, beginning with Vol. V, we have adopted the
unconventional plan of going ahead promptly with the new program
and adjusting affairs on the old schedule as soon as possible.

Our subscribers will find that the delayed issues are among the
most important in the series, and that the contained papers suffer
little, if any, from the enforced postponement in their publication.

58

William J. Gies 59

Each niimber of the Biochemical Bulletin will hereafter o-o
to press on the I5th of the month and will be issued on or about
the last day of the month. The time covered, in each issue by our
section on "News, notes and comment," will be, accordingly, the
period from the niiddle of one month to the middle of the next.

The monthly plan of publication will not increase the subscrip-
tion price of the Biochemical Bulletin. The Editorial Com-
mittee continues to pay all the executive expenses of publication,
which, with the further contribution of free editorial labor, makes it
possible to ofTer the Bulletin to subscribers at a price below that
of any other Journal of its kind and size.

We propose to adhere to the policy of issuing but one volume a
year. There will not he an increasing expense to the subscribers,
even if the anmial volumes are enlarged. Thus far we have re-
ceived annually a larger number of papers than we have been able
to publish. The influence of the Kronecker Biochemical Prize
may add to our embarrassment in this regard, but the corresponding
qualitative increase in the value of the Biochemical Bulletin
will be a gratifying consequence for our subscribers.

The Columbia University Biochemical Association decided, some
time ago, to endow the Biochemical Bulletin with a fund that
will insure the pennanent continuance of this Journal, in the active
Service of biochemistry as a science and as a profession. An-
nouncements of details in this connection will appear in succeeding
issues.

One of the many who appreciate the career of Hugo Kronecker,
and who honor his memory, has authorized us to publish the fol-
lowing Statement anonymously:

Kronecker " In response to your Suggestion that the award
Biochemical Prize of a cash prize of one hundred and fifty dollars
($150), to the author of the most meritorious biochemical paper in
each successive volume of the Biochemical Bulletin, would
serve * cumulatively to encourage biochemical research and improve
biochemical literature,' I wish to say that you may draw upon me
for that amount ($150) for that purpose, for five years in succession.

" In accordance with your general suggestions the only condi-
tions I attach to the expenditure of this fund are the following :

6o Editoriais

" I. The prize shall be designated, in all reference thereto In the
BiocHEMicAL Bulletin^ as the Kronecker Biochemical Prize.

" 2. No one more than 40 years of age shall be eligible to receive
the prize, but neither nationality, race, creed, sex, nor any other
State or personal condition shall render an author ineligible to re-
ceive the prize.

"3. The prize-winning paper, article, or other contribution, may
be of multiple authorship and of any biochemical character what-
ever, provided the paper or any part of it is not published elsewhere
before the award is f ormally announced ; but the prize may not be
awarded to a paper that is more than 15 printed pages in extent,
exclusive of diagrams, plates, tables, and other illustrative matter,

"4. The award of the prize shall be made annually by vote of
the subscribers for the Biochemical Bulletin.

" 5. The Managing Editor of the Biochemical Bulletin,, with
the advice of the members of the Executive Committee of the Co-
lumbia University Biochemical Association, shall have authority to
announce that none of the papers in a given volume is sufficiently
meritorious to Warrant the award of the prize for that volume; but
in any such event the prize for the succeeding volume, or volumes,
shall be increased by the amount, or amounts, not previously
awarded.

"6. The Managing Editor of the Biochemical Bulletin shall
announce and execute all plans desirable or necessary for the attain-
ment of my purpose in this matter, in accord with the conditions
above expressed.

"If, in the judgment of the Executive Committee of the Colum-
bia University Biochemical Association, by the time of the fifth
award, the prize will have accomplished, to a reasonable degree, the
purpose of its establishment, it will give me pleasure to consider the
continuance and enlargement of the Kronecker Biochemical Prize,
on the basis of an endowment to be placed under the management
of the Columbia University Biochemical Association."

It will be impossible suitably to award the Kronecker Biochem-
ical Prize before its existence is widely known. Plans for the exe-
cution of the donor's purpose will be developed at an early date and
announced in the next few issues of the Biochemical Bulletin.

William J. Gies 6i

All due preparation will be made for the first award of the prize
shortly after the completion of the next succeeding volume (VI) of
this Journal.

The Mcdical Brotherhood ("F. M.") — the Organization and
proceedings of which are discussed in Vol. IV (June-Sept.) — is
steadily increasing in size and importance. As we go to press the
Development of the number of members exceeds eleven hundred
Medical Brother- (i,iOo). The following quotation is pertinent,
hood: " F. M." though unintended, comment on the opportunities

of the Medical Brotherhood :

The whole civilized world observes with delight that the profes-
sion of medicine, including surgery and the profession of public
health and sanitation, Stands out distinctly among all the intellectual
callings as being steadily and universally devoted to curing the
sanguinary ills of war, alleviating human sufferings from disease
and folly, and extending for mankind the domain of health and
happy life. These professions employ all the resources of physics,
chemistry and biology for mercifui ends both in peace and in war.
The martial professions, on the other band, employ many scientific
discoveries and inventions, originally made for peace ful uses, as
means of destruction and death. Biological science has great ad-
vantage in this respect over physical and chemical: It can not so
f requently or easily be applied to evil ends. C. W. Eliot : Science,
1915, xlii, p. 928.

Do the members of the American Society of Biological Chem-
ists continue to prefer the Christmas holidays, of all other days of
the year, as the period in which to hold the annual meetings, or,
Objection to seien- ^o the members continue annually to meet sub-
tific meetings dur- missively during that holiday season chiefly be-
ing the Christmas cause " they started that way and don't know how
holidays ^^ g^^p M p jj^g ^l^g Bochemical Society yoked up

with the ox of custom and has custom been running away with the
Society? Is this case parallel with the classical : " We're here
because we're here?"

62 Books Received

There appears to be widespread dissatisfaction with the present
plan of breaking into the Christmas vacation with serious scientific
meetings, a dissatisfaction with which the writer heartily sympa-
thizes and which the Biochemical Bulletin will attempt to meas-
ure and express. The members of the American Society of Bio-
logical Chemists, and of the other three societies that comprise the
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, will
shortly receive a list of questions on this subject with the request
that answers be returned for publication in this Journal. The Bio-
chemical Bulletin will endeavor, in this unconventional way, to
serve the interests of all by showing that either there is, or is not,
good reason to change the time for the annual meeting of the Feder-
ation and its constituent societies.

See page 44 for comment on this subject by Secretary Auer.

The Biochemical Bulletin promptly acknowledges here the receipt of pub-
lications presented to it. Reviews are matter-of-fact Statements of the natura
p. , . , and Contents of the pubHcations referred to, and are

intended solely to guide possible purchasers. The wishes
or expectations of publishers or donors of volumes will be disregarded, if they
are incompatible with our convictions regarding the interests of our colleagues.
The sbcs of the printed pages are indicatcd, in inches, in the appended notices.

Edema and nephritis: A critical, experimental and clinical study of the
physiology and pathology of water absorption in the living organism. 26. ed.
By Martin H. Fischer, Eichberg prof. of physiol., Univ. of Cincinnati. Pp.
695— 4x6j^; $5.00. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1915. "These pages give
in combined form the Contents of the 1909 Hatfield prize essay of the Coli, of
Phys., of Phila., and of the 191 1 Cartwright prize essay of the Alumni Assoc.
of the Coli, of Phys. and Surg., Columbia Univ., previously published as separate
volumes bearing the titles ' Edema ' and ' Nephritis.' The dose association be-
tween the two made their appearance in combined form seem advisable. The
Chief changes which time has rendered necessary consist of additions to the
general text embodying the results of later experimental and clinical observa-
tions in good part not readily accessible to English rtz.6.trs—the main argument
remains as before."

Among the changes in the treatment of these subjects is an added section
on the relation of syneresis to the accumulation of fluid in body cavities in edema
(pp. 240-2). Special attention is also given to the possible influences of enzymes
as factors in the causation of edema (p. 220). Referring specifically to the role
of acid, Fischer says : " I have never held an acid production and accumulation
to constitute, of necessity, the only factor responsible for the increased hydration

Books Received ö^

which characterizes edema" Cp. 220). " My constantly reiterated claim that
certain changes in tissues are due to an ' increased acid content ' cannot at -will
he made to read an 'increased (hydrogen ion) actdity.' The latter may under
otherwise constant conditions become evidence of the former, but thc reverse
need not follow " (p. 633). Recent criticisms by Hendcrson and collaborators
are considered on pages 633-4. This book deserves to be studied by every inves-
tigator of Problems involving the biological relationships of water, for it prcsents
effectively, and in a stimulating and interesting manner, from many points of
view, the gist of our knowledge, theories, doubts and errors on this important
general subject,

A review of the literature of phosphorus Compounds in animal metabo-
lism. By E. B. Forbes and M. Helen Keith, Wooster, Ohio. Pp. 748— 4^/^ x 7^4.
Ohio Agric. Exp. Sta'n Technical Series, Bull. No, 5. This comprehensive re-
view is recommended unreservedly as the best work of reference on phosphorus
in its relation to normal animal nutrition. The parts (pp. 13-588; are (i),
Chem. of organic Compounds of P; (2) P of foods; (3) P of animal bodies and
products; (4) normal P metab. ; (5) P metab. in disease. An unusually com-
plete bibliography is appended (pp. 589-709), including the title of each paper
mentioned; and a complete and detailed index is included (pp. 711-48). The
spirit in which this splendid achievement was conceived and executed is indicated
by the following Quotation from the introduction (p. 11) :

"Throughout the intricacies of these processes — in considering the rclations
of the animal to its food — let it be our point of view that inheritance has fur-
nished the plans, the details and specifications which are to govern the whole
course of metabolism; that food builds the structure and maintains its proc-
esses, in so far as made possible by the nature and amounts of its constituents;
that variability in the composition and functions of the animal body, and excess
of capacity in its structures, constitute a Provision of safety, a means of adaptive
response to changes in dietary conditions ; that time lends to these adaptations
such permanency, in the individual, as to constitute specific effects of foods on
the life and structure of the animal; that these specific effects of foods are, in
general, due rather to their limitations than to Stimulation of supernormal func-
tion ; that the nature and possible extent of these effects have been separately
determined for each species by the particular conditions, and the variability of
conditions of life to which, through the ages, they have become adapted; and
that in relation to practical animal nutrition our interests are in the highest states
of function rather than in irreducible physiological minima, since the whole ränge
of success and profit lies dose, and ever closer, to maximum possibilities."

The chemistry of coUoids and some technical applications, By W. W.
Taylor, lect. in ehem., Univ. of Edinburgh. Pp. 32^^— 3^ x6; $2.00. Lrjngmans,
Green & Co., London, 1915. " It is curious that although colloid chemistry owes
its development in no small degree to British investigators, hitherto there has
been not only no English text-book on the subject, but no text-book in English
available, the foreign works that have been translated dealing with particular
aspects of the subject only, or with its bearings on other sciences." This volume
is based on the author's lectures on heterogeneous Systems, delivered to advanced
students in the Univ. of Edinburgh. It is a very useful text-book, and a valuable

64 Books Received

work of reference for biological chemists. The four main parts deal with (i)
general properties of colloids, (2) methods of preparation, (3) adsorption, (4)
applications of colloid ehem. (including biology, pp. 295-318).

A text-book of medical chemistry and toxicology. By James W. Holland,
emeritus prof. of med. ehem. and toxicol. ; dean, Jefferson Med. Coli., Phila.
4th ed. Pp. 678 — 4x6^4; $3-00. W. B. Saunders Co., Phila. and London, 1915.
This excellent volume continues to present in systematic form the essentials of
chemistry as they are related to practical and scientific medicine. The book is
primarily intended for students of medicine who are required to take, in medical
schools, courses in inorganic, organic and physiol. ehem., and in toxicology. In
the revision successful effort was made to give a thoroly satisfactory presenta-
tion of the " aid now offered to diagnosis by the ehem. laboratory." The author
acknowledges his indebtedness to Prof. P. B. Hawk, and Messrs. M. A. Saylor
and Olaf Bergeim, " for helpful suggestions in this revision."

CoUected papers from the Physiological Laboratory of King's College,
London. Ed. by W. D. Halliburton. Vol. XHI ; 1915 (17 reprints).

Publications from the Jefferson Med. Coli, and Hospital, Phila. Vol. V;
1915 {2y reprints). Vol. VI; 1915 (pp. 190; 18 original papers, not published
elsewhere).

Studies from the Department of Physiology, Cornell Univ. Med. Coli.,
including contributions from the Russell Sage Inst, of Pathology. Vol. IV;
1915 (24 reprints).

Studies from the Department of Physiology of Columbia Univ., at the
Coli, of Physicians and Surgeons. Vol. V; 1910-12 (24 reprints). Vol. VI;
1913-1914 (23 reprints).

Studies from the Department of Pathology of the Coli, of Physicians
and Surgeons, Columbia Univ. Vol. XIV; 1914 (30 reprints).

Studies from the Rockefeiler Institute for Medical Research. Vol. XXI ;
1915 (pp- 637; 64 reprints).

Collected papers from the Research Laboratory of Parke, Davis and Co.,
Detroit, Mich. Dr. E. M. Houghton, Director. Vol. III; 1915 (pp. 341; 22
reprints).

Hydrographie, plankton, and dredging records of the Scripps Institution
for Biological Research of the Univ. of California, 1901 to 1912. Compiled
and arranged, under the supervision of W. E. Ritter, by Ellis L. Michael and
George F. McEwen. (No. i. Vol. XV; Univ. of Cal. publications). 1915;
pp. 206.

The Illinois Chemist. " A quarterly published in the interests of the Fac-
ulty, Alumni and Students of the Dep't of Chem. of the Univ. of 111., under the
auspices of the Univ. of 111. Sect. of the Amer. Chem. Soc, the Chem. Club,
Alpha Chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon, and Zeta Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma."
Introductory number: June, 1915; pp. 44.

The list of members of the Columbia University Biochemical
Association, which has been kept running on an insert in the quar-
terly issues, will be published hereafter, in revised form, semi-
annually — in the June and December issues.

This Space will be used, hereafter, for announcements pertain-
ing to biochemical "positions vacant" and "positions wanted."
Such announcements will be published free of charge.

CONTENTS

PAGB

FrACTIONATION OF THE PHOSPHOTUNGSTIC-ACID PRECIPITATE
WITH ACETONE AS A USEFUL METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION
OF THE VITAMINE FRACTION FROM YEAST. Casimir Fuuk ... I

The BROMINE AND lODINE COMPOUNDS OF HEXAMETHYLENETET-

RAMiNE. Kanematsu Sugiura and K. George Falk 17

Brief contributions to biochemistry (1-7).

Jacoh Rosenhloom. 22
The Biochemical Society, England.

R. H. A. Plimmer, Secretary. 26
Society of Public Analysts, and Other Analytical

Chemists, E. Richards Bolton, Secretary 27

PrOCEEDINGS of THE THIRD ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FeDERA-

tion of American Societies for Experimental Biology,
IN Boston, Dec. 26-29, 191 5.

Paul E. Howe and coUahorators. 28
Biochemical news, notes and comment.

Benjamin Horozmts and collaborators. 49
Editorials including BOOK REVIEWS. William J. des 58

The Biochemical Bulletin is a monthly biochemical review. It
publishes results of original investigations in biological chemistry, pre-
liminary reports of researches, addresses, lectures, criticism, reviews,
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ogy, descriptions of new substances, methods and apparatus, — any and
all suitable items of personal and professional interest to students,
investigators and practitioners of biochemistry.

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Address remittances, manuscripts and correspondence to the
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Vol. V

February-March, 1916

No. 18-19

Biochemical Bulletin

Edited, for the Columbia University Biochemical Association, by

Herman M. Adler,
John S. Adriance,
L. H. Almy,

C. H. Allen,
David Alperin,
Carl L. Aisberg,

D. B. Armstrong,
George Baehr,

J. C. Baker,
Louise C. Ball,
Charles W. Ballard,
Arnold K. Balls,
Louis Baumann,
George D. Beal,
Cora J. Beckwith,
S. R. Benedict,
William N. Berg,
Josephine T. Berry,
Robert Bersohn,
Isabel Bevier,
Louis E. Bisch,
A. Richard Bliss,
Ernst Boas,
Helene M. Boas,
Joseph C. Bock,
Charles F. Bolduam,
Samuel Bookmein,
Sidney Born,
O. C. Bowes,
William B. Boyd,
Jean Broadhurst,
J. Bronfenbrenner,
H. E. Buchbinder,
Leo Buerger,
Gertr. Burlingham,
J. G. M. Bullowa,
R. Burton-Opitz,
A. M. Buswell,
R. P. Calvert,
A. T. Cameron,
Herbert S. Carter,
Russell L. Cecil,
Arthur F. Chace,
Hardee Chambliss,
Ella H. Clark,
Ernest D. Clark,
Alfred E. Cohn,
Kath. R. Coleman,
Robert A. Cooke,
Helen C. Coombs,
Blanche E. Cooper,
Calvin B. Coulter,
Burrill B. Crohn,
Glenn E. Cullen,
Louis J. Curtman,
William D. Cutter,
C. A. Darling,
William Darrach,
Andrew I. Dawson,

William J. Gies,

Norman E. Ditman,
Ula M. Dow,
Eugene F. DuBois,
James G. Dwryer,
Fred'k Eberson,
Walter H. Eddy,
D. J. Edwards,
Gustave Egloff,
A. D. Emmett,
Allan C. Eustis,
Benj. G. Feinberg,
Ada M. Field,
Ruth S. Finch,
Harry L. Fisher,
Mabel P. FitzGerald,
Nellis B. Foster,
Fred D. Fromme,
C. Stuart Gager,
Mary C. de Garmo,
Helen Gavin,
Mary E. Gearing,
George A. Geiger,
Samuel Gitlow,

A. J. Goldfarb,
H. D. Goodale,
H. B. Goodrich,
F. G. Goodridge,
Ross A. Gortner,
Mark J. Gottlieb,
Isidor Greenwald,
James C. Greenway,
Louise H. Gregory,
Beatrix Gross,
Abraham Gross,

B. C. Gruenberg,
Marston L. Hamlin,
Frederic M. Hanes,
R. F. Hare,

Tula L. Harkey,
T. Stuart Hart,
Fred W. Hartwell,
E. Newton Harvey,
P. B. Hawk,
Harold M. Hays,
M. Heidelberger,
Joseph S. Hepburn,
M. G. Herzfeld,
Alfred F. Hess,
L. J. Hirshleifer,
Mildred A. Hoge,
Karl J. Holliday,
Wm. T. Hörne,
Byron B. Horton,
Homer D. House,
Frank T. Hughes,
Louis Hussakof,
Roscoe R. Hyde,
Henry H. Janeway,
Max Kahn,

John L. Kantor,
James P. Kelly.
Edw. C. Kendall,
J. E. Kirkwood,
Israel J. Kligler,
Arthur Knudson,
Mathilde Koch,
Sydney D. Kramer,
Walter M. Kraus,
Alfred H. Kropff,
Chas. Krumwiede, Jr.,

A. V. S. Lambert,
Marguerite T. Lee,
Victor E. Levine,
Charles C. Lieb,
Sidney Liebovitz,
Mabel C. Little,

B. E. Livingston,
Leon Loewe,
Alfred P. Lothrop,
Daniel R. Lucas,
Wm. H. McCastline,
Helen McClure,
Mary G. McCormick,
Louise McDanell,
Jas. P. McKelvy,
Alice H. McKinney,
Grace MacLeod,

C. A, Mathewson,
H. A. Mattill,
Clarence E. May,
Gustave M. Meyer,
Sergius Morgulis,
Max Morse,
Agnes F. Morgan,
H. O. Mosenthal,
J. Howard Mueller,

Hermann J. Muller,
Archibald E. Olpp,

B. S. Oppenheimer,
R. C. Osburn,
Reuben Ottenberg,
Charles Packard,

A. M. Pappenheimer,
Edwards A. Park,
Olive G. Patterson,
Almeda Perry,
W. H. Peterson,
Louis Pine,
Helene M. Pope,
E. R. Posner,
P. W. Punnett,
Jessie Moore Rahe,
A. N. Richards,
Anna E. Richardson,

C. H. Richardson,
Grace C. Robinson,
Winifred J. Robinson,
David E. Roelkey,

and the executive editorial sub-committee :
Edgar G. Miller, Jr., chairman,
Benjamin Horowitz, Paul E. Howe,

Anton R. Rose,
Jacob Rosenbloom,
Una G. Ruth,
William Salant,
W. S. Schley,
Oscar M. Schloss,
H. von W. Schulte,
W. H. Schultz,
Fred W. Schwartz,
C. A. Schwarze,
Ernest L. Scott,
Emily C. Seaman,
Fred J. Seaver,
A. D. Selby,
A. Franklin Shull,
J. Buren Sidbury,
C. Hendee Smith,
Clayton S. Smith,
Edward A. Spitzka,
Matthew Steel,
Ralph G. Stillman,
Chas. R. Stockard,
Edward C. Stone,
Mary E. Sweeny,
Arthur W. Thomas,
Helen B. Thompson,
M. K. Thornton,
Grover Tracy,
F. T. Van Buren,
J. D. Van Buskirk,
Eliz. G. Van Hörne,
Philip Van Ingen,
Chas. H. Vosburgh,
Delancy M. Ward,
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F. S. Weingarten,
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Charles Weisman,
William H. Welker,
C. A. Wells,
Harry Wessler,
Frank M. Wheat,
Isabel Wheeler,
H. L. White,
Geb. H. Whiteford,
David D. Whitney,
Ethel Wickwire,
Herbert B. Wilcox,
Guy W. Wilson,
Louis E. Vyise,
William H. Woglom,
I. O, Woodruff.
L. L. Woodruff,
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Anna B. Yates,
R. M. Yergason,
Hans Zinsser,

William A. Perlzweig

NEW YORK

Entered as second-clais matter in the Post Office at Lancaster, Pa.

KRONECKER BIOCHEMICAL PRIZE

A prize of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150), to be known as
the Kronecker Biochemical Prize, and intended "to encourage
biochemical research and improve biochemical literature," will be
awarded to the most meritorious paper, in each successive volume of
the Biochemical Bulletin, under the f ollowing conditions :

1. The prize shall be designated, in all reference thereto in the
Biochemical Bulletin, as the Kronecker Biochemical Prize.

2. No one more than 40 years of age shall be eligible to receive
the prize, but neither nationality, race, creed, sex, nor any other
State or personal condition shall render an author ineligible to re-
ceive the prize,

3. The prize- winning paper, article, or other contribution, may
be of multiple authorship and of any biochemical character what-
ever, provided the paper or any part of it is not published elsewhere
before the award is formally announced; but the prize may not be
awarded to a paper that is more than 15 printed pages in extent,
exclusive of diagrams, plates, tables, and other illustrative matter.

4. The award of the prize shall be made annually by vote of
the subscribers for the Biochemical Bulletin.

5. The Managing Editor of the Biochemical Bulletin, with
the advice of the members of the Executiye Committee of the Co-
lumbia University Biochemical Association, shall have authority to
announce that none of the papers in a givei\ volume is sufficiently
meritorious to Warrant the award of the prize vfo.r„that volume; but
in any such event the prize for the succeeding volume, or voiuir^s,
shall be increased by the amount, or amounts, not previously
awarded.

6. The Contents of the second half of the present volume (V —
July to December, 19 16, inclusive) and of the whole of the succeed-
ing volume (VI — 19 17) shall constitute the series of papers from
which the most meritorious contribution will be selected for the
initial bestowal of the Kronecker Biochemical Prize. Beginning
with Volume VII (1918), this prize will be awarded annually.

7. The Managing Editor of the Biochemical Bulletin will
announce and execute all plans desirable or necessary for the attain-
ment of the donor's purpose in this matter, in accord with the con-
ditions above expressed.

See page 59 (Jan.) and 127 (this number) of the Biochemical
Bulletin.

BiocHEMiCAL Bulletin

Volume V FEBRUARY-MARCH, 1916 No. 18-19

SCIENTIFIC TRUTH AND THE SCIENTIFIC SPIRIT^

A. B. MACALLUM, F.R.S.

In appearing before you this evening in my present röle I can-
not but recall an incident of fifty-five years ago, which often recurs
to my mind when I think of the events of today.

The Trustees of the Smithsonian Institution in 1861 were pre-
paring their programme for the year, and in this programme were
courses of lectures to be given to the pubhc on a series of selected
topics. Their intention was announced and they were importuned
to devote those lectures lo what was at that time in everybody's
mind. It was the first year of your great war of the Secession. I
say your war, but I might with some justification have called it our
war, for there fought in the ranks of the armies of the North
68,coo British Citizens of whom 45,000 were Canadians, and of
the latter 15,000 lost their lives. There were even then stop-the-
war people, prototypes of the Fords, the Akeds, the Jane Addamses
and the Lloyd Joneses of today, futile, mole-visioned and cloister-
minded, who imagined that the great conflict could be prevented by
talking and they wished to avail themselves of the opportunity the
lectures might present of showing how it could be done.

The Trustees apparently wished to be neutral, perhaps they
were uncertain what the upshot of the conflict was going to be, and
this may have helped them to decide, as they did, that all War topics
should be excluded from their programme. To secure that they
invited Professor, afterwards Sir, Daniel Wilson of the University
of Toronto, to give a course of lectures on Prehistoric Man. Pro-

1 Address delivered at the Fifth Annual Dinner of the Columbia University
Biochemical Association, February loth, 1916. See page 123.

65

66 Scientific Triith and thc Scientific Spirit

fessor Wilson was eminent for his attainments and achievements in
many fields, but he was chiefly known at the time as a pathmaker
in what were then the trackless wilds of the eadiest history o£ our
race, and, therefore, the selection of him as a lecturer on the subject
could not have been more aptly made. It was a fortunate selection
from another point of view. His subject could not be remotely
associated with the war then begun, but, had it been otherwise, his
habit of mind prevented him from alluding to it in his lectures, and
not even once in his conversation during his stay in Washington
did he indicate the slightest interest in the great struggle then begun.
There were occasions when he could have referred to it. Fre-
quently during the delivery of his lectures the boom of cannon,
heard in the lecture room, coming from across the Potomac, punc-
tuated his sentences. According to the late Dr. Otis T. Mason,
who was my informant on this subject, he left as a memory of his
Visit a reputation for mental detachment that was Olympic in its
character.

This evening I appear before you in a role which is in some
respects parallel to that filled by Sir Daniel Wilson on that occasion,
but there are in it contrasts also. Your country, your nation is now
at peace and it is my country that is at war, engaged in a struggle
unparallelled in history. Canada has already played a part and she
is preparing to play a larger one. She is to increase her army of
200,000 men to half a million, that is, to train and arm five men
out of every twelve of the male population between the ages of
eighteen and forty-five. That will indicate the magnitude of
the task we have undertaken. There can be no mistaking the
seriousness with which we regard what is before us. Our young
men are preparing to do their duty and to pay the toll that may be
exacted. Daily through my laboratory Windows comes the sound
of the drilling of more than seventeen hundred men, which goes on
from morning to night on our University lawn. We have already
sent seven hundred of our students and young graduates overseas
on active service and we have now a continually lengthening Roll
of Honour with its sad yet noble memories of those whom Age
shall not weary nor the Years condemn. The end may be far off
and the future is dark and heavy with fate, but we are going for-

A. B. Macallum 67

ward with the determination that, though life will never again be
as it was in the joyous, care-free past, a new world shall come into
being as a compensation for the sacrifices that we are making and
are yet to make. We are certain above all things of one result,
and it is that this war is forging on the anvil of Destiny, in the
fierce f urnace heat of the conflict, the scattered loosely-knit portions
of our Anglo-Celtic Empire into an Organization, an instrument that
shall be a guarantee of happiness and liberty to countless millions
yet unborn.

It is the thought of all these things crowding in on my mind,
that prevents me from adopting the absolutely detached, Olympic
mind that Sir Daniel Wilson displayed when your nation was being
welded into one in the f urnace heat of the great Civil War. I am
not, however, going to allow these thoughts to crowd out those
which it is my duty to express to you on this occasion. I must
look forward, as you must also, to a time when the welter of baleful
hatred and palaeolithic fury of the hour will be past though not
forgotten, to a time when men of science of all nationalities may,
under better auspices, and in spite of the chauvinism that will be
the result of this war, cultivate once more a camaraderie on the
intellectual high-road of life. And in looking forward we must
strive to strengthen those forces which, out of all the wreckage of
today, remain to assist us in restoring what we, two years ago,
were wont to believe could never be swept away.

What are those forces? They are Scientific Truth and the
Scientific Spirit, both of them intangible entities or principles, but
for all that destined to play a part in the restoration of the world
to sanity.

It is upon these that I am to dwell this evening, and I have
chosen them as the subject of my address in the hope that, in hold-
ing your attention for the moment, I may direct your thoughts to
questions which are of enduring interest to all workers in science.

To workers in biochemistry these topics are of fundamental
importance because our attitude toward them, our comprehension
of their significance, determine our usefulness as scientific investi-
gators. As students of the phenomena of living matter we are
constantly in touch with problems which, to many, seem inscrutable.

68 Scientific Truth and tJie Scientific Spirit

inexplicable on the basis of our present knowledge. There is in the
make-up of our personalities a tendency to classify the inexplicable
as transcendental and to believe that in living matter there operate
forces that can never be scrutinized and examined as we examine
the forces of the ordinary physical world. That tendency of mind,
from which I say few are wholly free, is, when unchecked, a nega-
tion of the Scientific Spirit, and to a mind more or less influenced
by it there can be no Scientific Truth, for the latter is the product
of the Scientific Spirit.

There may be some who will ask " What is Truth? " They ask
the question not in the spirit and intent of the Procurator of Judaea,
but because they are perplexed by the irreconcilable interpretations
of the term, '' Truth," as advanced in the discussions amongst the
different schools of philosophical thought. The perplexity is to a
certain extent natural, but it ought not to prevent us from finding
an answer to the question which will meet the tests, not only of
daily life, but also of the world of science, as a brief consideration
of the doctrines of two diametrically opposed schools of thought
may show.

Amongst the adherents of one of these schools, which I may,
for the sake of brevity, call the Absolute School, Truth is a concept
reached by processes of more or less rigid speculation and reason-
ing, in which, however, introspection plays a large part, explaining
the world, reality and mind in terms which are wholly of dialectical
coinage. The central doctrine of this System of thought is that
reality and appearance are but manifestations of the activity of an
entity freed or absolved from all limitations of time and capable
of all that we can conceive and more, an entity that is, in conse-
quence, denominated the Absolute. The Absolute is, in the lan-
guage, some would say, in the jargon, of the School, but Truth itself
because it is claimed to be the product of the final analysis of the
phenomena of Mind and Reality.

This concept of Truth commends itself to minds of a rare type,
chiefly those of the cloister or the study, but never to those repre-
sentative of the world of action. I do not wish to be understood as
deriding it or the processes by which it is reached, for I recognize
that the human mind must explore its own depths and exploit its

A. B. Macallum 69

own processes, whatever the result may be, yet I would point out
that the world is not peopled wholly by Greens, Cairds, Bosanquets,
Bradleys and Royces, and that the life and thought of the exoteric
many can never but remotely be influenced by this doctrine of
Truth.

The other school of philosophy is a proponent of a doctrine
of Truth quite different from the product of pure intellectuaHsm
and which can be understood and applied by the many to daily Hfe,
and because it can be of Service to them it can be absolved from the
Charge that " it bakes no bread." This school of philosophy holds,
as its Cardinal tenet, that Truth is a body of beliefs or generaliza-
tions that works when you apply it in your needs. The truth in a
particular case is the generalization, great or small, that you find in
accordance with the facts, and the facts themselves are isolated
truths, the products of your experience, that you accept as satisfy-
ing your intellectual tests. Whatever works then in daily life is
truth, and, if a generalization, or belief, cannot be so applied, it
has no function or significance intellectually or practically, and
cannot be truth as it is conceived by the disciples of this school.

This school of philosophy is known as the Pragmatic School
and it is generally supposed to have been founded within our own
time by the late C. S. Pierce and Professor William James of
Har\'ard and Dr. F. C. S. Schiller of Oxford, and Professor John
Dewey of Columbia, who still remain its leaders. The school,
however, represents an attitude of mind that has influenced the race
since its origin one or more millions of years ago. Ever since the
middle of the Pliocene Age, or, perhaps, even since the end of the
Miocene, man has had to struggle with his environment, and that
very struggle postulated a System of beliefs and generalizations,
which, if they served him, represented to him Truth. The beliefs
and generalizations did not work, if he failed in the struggle and
was exterminated. They were, of necessity, at first of the crudest,
the most barbaric type and limited in their scope and application to
the needs of the moment, but they were changed as they slowly
underwent the test of experience, and the beliefs and generaliza-
tions of one age were discarded wholly or became the superstitions

70 Scientific Truth and the Scientific Spirit

of succeeding ages. Even today the vast majority of mankind re-
gard their beliefs and generalizations as true because they work or
give a satisfactory explanation of the scheme of things as it appears
now.

That the pragmatic point determined what Truth was in the
mind of prehistoric man may be gathered from the study of the
beHefs and practices of those tribes which are still in the prehistoric
stage of culture. Sir John G. Frazer, the author of " The Golden
Bough," and one of the profoundest students of the history of
human culture, in his work, " Psyche's Task," claims that the evo-
lution of some of our most cherished convictions and principles, such
as the sacredness of human life, sexual morality, the rights of
property and our conception of social order, was promoted by the
beliefs and generalizations of prehistoric races. These beliefs and
generalizations now appear to us as superstition, and of the gross-
est character in some respects, but this very superstition in promot-
ing those convictions and principles on which the whole fabric of
Society rests has rendered a great service to humanity. Sir John
Frazer admits that superstition has been productive of evil in the
history of the race, but this should not blind us to the benefit it has
conferred, and he gives special point to all this by a dictum which
for its brevity and concentrated wisdom is well worth remember-
ing : *' Once the harbour lights are passed and the ship is in port,
it matters little whether the pilot steered by a Jack o'lantern or the
Stars."

The history of the human mind is then that of long ages of
discipline in pragmatism. It is the pragmatic mind that has brought
man along the road of progress through the million or more years
of the prehistoric period to the stage of civilization of today. It
is the pragmatic mind that will lead him, indeed force him, along
the road of progress in the many, many millions of years during
which the race will possess the earth. In all that time to come he
will refine more and more the processes by which he arrives at what
he will regard as Truth and he will subject it to ever rigider tests
as the millennia pass. As a result, there will be many a discarded
belief and generalization once looked upon as Truth, just as there

A. B. Macalliun 71

has been in the past a long series of beliefs and generalizations
which for a time worked and then became superstitions. Truth
then will have its palaeontology just as life has, with its myriads of
forms which have passed away.

To those who are inclined to accept the intellectualist's teach-
ings, this view of Tnith as earth-born rather than heaven-born,
appears repellant and degrading. It does not seem possible for
them to idealize it as they can idealize what Carlyle calls " The
Eternal Verities." They, with Chaucer, may hold that "Truth is
the highest thing a man may keep," and they are prone accordingly
to Sublimate it, as the intellectualist does, until it has no earthly
affinities. They should remember that Truth of the Absolute
School has had a repellent history. Men have in the past assumed
that they were in the possession of Absolute Truth and they at-
tempted to compel all others to accept it also. Not to receive the
Absolute Truth, they held, was to murder the soul, and to prevent
such murder the extremest cruelty was considered justifiable. Hence
arose persecution, religious wars, death at the stake and on the
scafifold, massacres of thousands and relapses into barbarism.
Absolute Truth has then its pateontology to remind it that it, like
the Truth of Pragmatism, is subject to growth, to evolution and
that it may ripen only with the ages.

From all that I have said it follows that the long discussions on
the nature of Truth as the pure intellectualist understands it have
been but vain dallyings with illusory ideas. There is no Absolute
Truth knowable to the human mind. All that passes for such can,
at best, be but a remote approximation to what may, in the final
cast of thought in the far-distant future, be a dim limning of the
ultimate, the absolute, the fundamental significance of the relations
of Reality and Mind.

Now what is the bearing of all this on Scientific Truth?

Its significance lies in the fact that the representatives of Sci-
ence must always face the question of the validity of its position as
an exponent of organized knowledge. There is in the populär mind
a notion that the processes by which the facts and generalizations
of Science are established are different from those which are em-
ployed outside of the laboratory or observatory to establish the

72 Scientific Truth and the Scientific Spirit

working hypotheses of daily life, or which were employed, more or
less unconsciously, in the development of the most firmly founded
principles on which our present social order rests. This has caused
Science to be regarded as a thing apart, as the lore of an orack
vvhose pronouncements it is profanity to reject. One hears in
populär Speech such expressions as "Science says — " or, "accord-
ing to Science " or " Science teaches ..." and this indicates that
in the mind of the average man there is a more or less developed
cult of Science as an infallible entity, personality, or divinity, which,
like Minerva, has no earthly or human origin. It is perhaps not
the populär mind that is wholly to blame for this. When one
reviews the discussions and polemics of the last fifty years, which
have arisen from the conflict between conservative and advanced
thought, and, especially, advanced thought based on direct Observa-
tion and experiment, there has not been wanting a species of dog-
matism in not a few of the representatives of Science, that suggests
the claim of a degree of infallibility which the populär mind, super-
ficial as it is, and because of the achievements of Science, has been
and is inclined to accept. It is true, the clearest-minded amongst
the representatives of Science never by speech or silence encouraged
such a claim. Tyndall, Huxley, Kelvin, Helmholtz, Virchow and
Pasteur have, in set terms, again and again insisted that Science
is not infallible. Huxley, throughout his long Crusade for the
recognition of Science as a force making for progress, was specially
insistent on the possibility of error in Science. He it was who
defined Science as nothing but trained and organized common sense,
a definition that ought to acquit it of the charge of claiming
infallibiHty.

In spite of these disclaimers, the taint of a reputation for in-
fallibility remains and it not infrequently draws from the super-
ficial, as well as from some who ought to know^ better, the criti-
cism that the judgments of Science are unstable and ought not to be
regarded as having any validity when they are opposed to the estab-
lished beliefs and the dogma of the day. Sometimes the expo-
nents of the older learning denounce Science as falsely so-called, or
term it Pseudo-Science. At one time that was the stock charge
against Science, and it had its effect on the unthinking. It still

A. B. Macallum 73

is launched against Science chiefly in the polemical publications of
the orthodox theological school,

It is, however, when the criticism comes from the rank and
file of the army of Science that it does the most mischief, and especi-
ally so when it is urged in defence, not of reHgious beliefs or dog-
mas of a philosophical school, but of dogmas hke vitaHsm, the ac-
ceptance of which postulates a negation of the estabhshed methods
of Science.

It is not difficult, though not fair, to charge Science with pre-
tensions to infalHbility, then to recall its mistakes, its discarded
theories and generalizations and thereby to impugn its claims to
speak with authority on matters with which it busies itself. That
appeals occasionally to the man in the street and it gains a httle,
perhaps desired, notoriety for the critic, but does it help us in the
final cast of things to question the hard-won achievements of the
human mind and say that they are nought? By what other methods
than those followed in scientific research can organized knowledge
be gained ? Is it by intuition, revelation or the dialectics and pipe-
dreams of the intellectualists ? It is, therefore, beside the mark for
Von Uexküll to ask "Was ist eine wissenschaftliche Wahrheit?"
and to answer "Ein Irrtum von heute." In a different spirit and
with a World of difference in ultimate meaning is the Observation of
Huxley that " history wams us that it is the customary fate of new
truths to begin as heresies and to end as superstitions."

Science, then, is not infallible and never can be. Equally lack-
ing is the quality of infalHbility in Scientific Truth. The essence
of a truth in Science lies in its power to explain phenomena in a
satisfactory way. If it does not do this, then it is not a truth. In
a certain stage of the development of scientific knowledge a theory
is found to explain or relate all the known facts in a particular
ränge of phenomena. This is the source of the satisfaction it gives
to the scientific mind and at that stage it is accepted as a Truth.
But subsequently discovered facts in the same province may refuse
to be so explained or related, and the previously accepted truth will,
consequently, be discarded for one that will give this service.

An illustration is to be found in the history of the theories of
light. Newton held that light emanated from its source in the

74 Scientific TrutJi and thc Scientific Spirit

form of cxcessively minute particles or corpuscles. which were sup-
posed to travel with enormous velocity. This " corpuscular " theory
in his day and for a hundred years after seemed to explain all the
then known phenomena of light. It was not only satisfactory in
this respect but it stimulated further inquiry in the siibject. This
eventually led to the Promulgation of the " undulatory " theory.
according to which light is but a wave motion in the cosmic ether.
For the last hundred years this has been accepted as a truth, but
in its tum it is failing to explain all new facts as they are ascer-
tained. and its acceptance in its original form as a truth may
eventually terminate.

If this is Scientific Truth. what is there to prevent it from
running riot. and confusing and misleading rather than guiding?

The only preventive force is the Scientific Spirit. It is a de-
velopment of the quality or tendency of the mind which has com-
pelled man in all the periods of his histor}- to discard or to recast his
truths because they do not work, and to accept new ones because
they do w'ork. That tendency in common life has operated crudely
and slowly, it has caused countless mistakes and the temporary ac-
ceptance of countless errors. but it has brought us to our presentstage
of civilization. It is indeed nothing eise than the pragmatic spirit.
The Scientific Spirit is the pragmatic spirit trained in the stricte:;^
fashion to accept only what answers rigid tests and reinforced by
an intense curiosity or desire to know. The very essence of this
Spirit is manifested in the habit of unceasing, relentless criticism.
Without such incessant criticism there would be chaos in Science.
The Scientific Spirit, as thus understood. is an all-powerful factor
in establishing Scientific Truth.

To some of you, perhaps to many of you. what I have said may
appear as a restatement of a series of truisms, and I am prepared to
admit that. I have. however, dwelt on these latters at length be-
cause they are of fundamental importance to men of science gen-
erally, and, amongst these. to biochemists. especially of the yoimger
generation, who have now to meet an extraordinär}- Situation in
which these matters are involved.

A brief sketch of the history of biochemistry to the present date
will demonstrate what this Situation is.

A. B. Macallum 75

It would be difficult to say when the history of biochemistry
actually began, for all through the last Century a number of contri-
butions to chemistry were made which can now be regarded as con-
tributions to biochemistry. The history of biochemistry, however,
as a distinct department of knowledge, may be said to have begun
with Hoppe-Seyler in 1867 in the work from his laboratory,
which he subsequently published under the general title of "Medi-
cinische-Chemische Untersuchungen." The number of publica-
tions from all sources, which appeared annually during the seven-
ties, was small, and even in 1884 when I began to interest myself
in the subject it did not, all told, exceed more than three hundred a
year. It was possible for a biochemist then and for a few years
thereafter to keep in touch with all advances in his subject, but
eventually the number grew and in 1905 the year's Output of bio-
chemical publications of all kinds was estimated to be about three
thousand five hundred papers. It did not cease to grow and the
Output of 1913 was more than six thousand.

The task of the Scientific Spirit in 1870, so far as the exercise
of relentless criticism was concerned, was easy, for the dozen or
more biochemists could supervise the whole field of production and
pronounce judgment. That function was carefully and deliberately
performed. It is on record that when Miescher, who had been for
some time a Student in Hoppe-Seyler's laboratory in Tübingen,
offered his paper, now classical, on nuclein for publication in the
" Medicinische-Chemische Untersuchungen," Hoppe-Seyler would
not publish it tili he himself had worked over the whole subject and
verified all the observations of Miescher. The publication of the
paper was, in consequence, delayed two years.

What could be done in 1870 cannot be done now, when the
mass of literature being poured out in every department of b:o-
chemistry is so ov^erwhelming. It is still possible for the head of a
laboratory to censor its productions and a number of the leaders
exercise that function, but what they do in this subject ameliorates
the Situation only to a slight extent. There is still, as anyone can
see, too little criticism of value in the annual Output. One gets the
Impression in reviewing the literature on a subject, that the con-
tributors to it regard criticism as not within their province, and that

76 Scientific Truth and the Scientific Spirit

they are anxious to get their own views on record without going
through the labour of preparing a critical review of that literature.
There is in consequence an ever increasing dependence on Jahres-
berichte, Centralblätter and Ergebnisse. Even when the function of
criticism is exercised the Situation is not always thereby bettered,
for the criticism not infrequently is shpshod or specious, and the
result is only polemics, or it is completely ignored.

It may be urged that the criticism to be effective would increase
the length of each contribution, which on the average is sufficiently
long already. The answer to this is that effective criticism would in
the end not only shorten the length of the papers, but also lessen
their number.

The haste to publish and the tendency to multiply unnecessarily
the number of papers are vices which should be curbed. The fact
that they are so prevalent is due to the absence of effective
criticism.

In claiming that criticism is the essence of the Scientific Spirit,
I must not be understood as justifying criticism of the indiscrimi-
nating or reckless type. That is utterly senseless and is a graver
fault than the absence of all criticism. Criticism, to be effective,
must be pertinent, judicial, honest and, above all, courteous to
the object of it. Criticism of that type no one can refuse or reject
and it is extremely valuable to the individual who is subjected to it,
as he will admit sooner or later if he is of the right sort. It is the
only means of determining whether what he offers as a contribution
is going to work.

To inculcate right Standards of criticism there should be given
in every University a course of lectures on Ethics for all those who
propose to devote themselves to a scientific career. There might
even be, I would suggest, a Brotherhood like the ancient Brother-
hood of Hippocrates, the members of which would vow to devote
themselves to the cause of Truth, to deal justly and courteously
with one another and with all labourers for that cause and to keep
the scientific record purged of what is false or mean.

Not to dwell further on this subject, I will now briefly empha-
size the central points of this address :

The first is that Absolute Truth is not knowable, and that even
to the end of time it will be so.

A. B. Macallum 77

The unfinished window in Aladdin's Tower
Unfinished must remain.

The second point is that Scientific Truth of any age is that
which works and consequently it may change and present a new
aspect with each succeeding generation.

The third is that the Scientific Spirit is, when rigorously exer-
cised, the only test of what works or what is Scientific Truth.

The last point is that Science is not and never can be infalhble,
and we should be thankful for that, for, if it assumed infalHbihty,
the progress of the human mind on the path of Truth would cease.

Before I conclude finally I would call attention to a rendition of

the ideal Scientific Spirit which is to be found in a passage of

Tennyson's "Ulysses." The old hero is there represented as hav-

ing, after ten long years before the walls of Troy and ten more years

of peril and adventure on the sea, returned to Ithaca, his old home,

and as now resolving to take up the life of change and discovery

even though the gulfs should wash him down. The passage which I

quote should be indelibly fixed in the memory of every scientific

worker :

I am a part of all that I have met ;

Yet all experience is an arch wherethro'

Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades

Forever and forever when I move.

How dull it were to pause, to make an end,

To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use!

As tho' to breathe were life! Life piled on life

Were all too little, and of one to me

Little remains, but every hour is saved

From that eternal silence, something more,

A bringer of new things, and vile it were

For some three suns to störe and hoard myself,

And this gray spirit yearning in desire

To follow knowledge, like a sinking Star,

Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.

University of Toronto,
Toronto, Canada.

THE " RETROGRADE CIRCULATION OF CALCIUM "

IN THE HUMAN BODY

G. DELGADO PALACIOS
(Biochemical Laboratory of the University of Caracas, Venezuela)

(Received for publication, December ii, 1914)-

Introduction. Calcium is an essential dement in the biochem-
ical Constitution of the human body, through which it circulates
constantly. In various forms, calcium enters the organism with
food and potable water, and leaves it in urine and feces. Other ex-
cretions normally contain traces of calcium but, under pathological
conditions, may carry much larger quantities, e. g., the Sputum in
pneumonia and pulmonary tuberculosis, as stated by Loeper and
Bechamp ( i ) . Ingested calcium is partly absorbed in the stomach
and Upper portion of the small intestine. Most of the ingested cal-
cium usually passes unahsorhed along the intestinal tract and is elim-
inated in the feces. Absorbed calcium is excreted along two differ-
ent Channels, some being ejected by the kidney, some by the lower
portions of the small intestine. The foregoing Statements indicate
the normal circulation of calcium in the human body, as established
by the successive investigations of Forster, Voit, Müller, Neubauer,
Bertram, Renvall, and others. The relative quantities of calcium
involved in the different phases of this circulation vary considerably
with the physiological State, the age, and peculiarities of the indi-
vidual but, above all, with the quality and quantity of the food.

Calcium is eliminated in the urine in combination principally with
phosphoric acid, also with sulfuric, carbonic, oxalic and uric acids;
that is to say, with acids which form with it slightly soluble Com-
pounds (2). The daily quantities of urinary calcium vary from
about 0.15 gm. to 0.50 gm., according to different authors. The
fecal calcium, that is to say, the difference between the ingested
and the urinary calcium, also varies greatly in quantity, under both
normal and pathological condition.

78

G. Dclgado Palacios 79

In adults under ordinary conditions, the urinary calcium amounts
to about 10 percent of the ingested total. Von Noorden (3) found
that in five persons there were variations between 3.9 and 28.3 per-
cent of that total. Blauberg (4) determined that in infants during
the nursing period, on mother's milk, the relation between the
amounts of urinary and fecal calcium was 76 : 24, that is to say, the
relation for adults is reversed for infants. When infants were fed
upon cow milk, however, this ratio was similar to that for adults,
and varied from 45 : 55 to 22 : 78. In nursing infants the fecal re-
action is normally acid; in adults and in infants fed upon cow milk,
the fecal reaction is usually neutral or alkaline. When, in adults
under certain pathological conditions, the fecal reaction becomes
strongly acid, the calcium ratio is " inverted," as for nursing infants.

The relation between (a) the quantity of calcium that is excreted
by the intestinal mucous membrane, after having traversed the in-
termediary nutritive cycle mentioned above, and (b) the residuary
calcium, of ingested food, that passes along the digestive tract with-
out being absorbed, cannot be estimated precisely, because of inade-
quacy of the methods for their determination. The method em-
ployed by Müller (5), Tigerstedt (6), Renvall (7) and Salomon
and Wallace (8), was based upon analytic data pertaining to the
feces of (a) fasting subjects (Cetti and Breithaupt) or of (b) sub-
jects receiving a diet poor in nitrogen, phosphorus and salins, that
is to say, a diet from which residuary food calcium was eliminated
(practical fasting, in this connection). In such subjects fecal cal-
cium is calcium excreted into the alimentary tract. Salomon and
Wallace have found that, in two adults subjected to a diet consisting
exclusively of sugar, 0.21 1 gm. and 0.189 gm. of calcium (expressed
as CaO), were excreted respectively during 24 hours. On such a
diet, fecal calcium arises almost entirely from the mucous membrane
in the lower portions of the small intestine, according to Voit (9),
whose experimental researches on the feces produced by an isolated
intestinal loop permit of no doubt in this matter. The pancreatic
and biliary secretions, as well as those produced by the large mtes-
tine, contain only very small quantities of calcium.

The method employed by Salkowski (10), later by Ury (11), is

8o "Retrograde Circulation of Calcium"

based upon the assumption that the soluble mineral matters (among
them salts of calcium) in watery extracts of feces, are excreted by
the intestinal mucous membrane. Ury considers intestinal calcium
an excretion that is complementary to the urinary elimination of
calcium. This idea, of complementary intestinal and urinary func-
tion in the excretion of calcium, seemed to have been confirmed,
in the pathological field, by Soetbeer (12), who described an
anomaly of calcareous catabolism, named calcariuria, in which the
quantities of urinary calcium increase, while those of fecal calcium
decrease. Soetbeer found, for example, that in 24 hours a woman
excreted, in the urine, 0.263 gm. of calcium (expressed as CaO) in
excess of the corresponding quantity by another normal person on
the same diet. On the contrary, she excreted 0.310 gm. less in the
feces. The excess of urinary calcium in this case originated from
absorbed alimentary calcium, which, in Opposition to what happens
normally, was not excreted by the intestinal mucous membrane, but
by the kidneys. Soetbeer attributes the pathogeny of calcariuria
to the existence of Colitis, which, he believes, impedes the excretion
of absorbed calcium through the diseased intestinal mucous mem-
brane.

Nevertheless, I regard Ury's supposition as an undemonstrable
hypothesis. In reality the phenomenon his assumption is intended
to explain is of an entirely different character. I have termed " ret-
rograde circulation of calcium" in the human body the (a) putre-
factive production of soluble calcium (salts) in the feces, (b) the
reabsorption of such soluble calcium into the blood, and finally its
(c) passage into the urine, where it occurs in combination with
Volatile or inferior fatty acids primarily formed in the feces,

My object, in this paper, is the presentation of an abstract of the
experimental data upon which my conclusions were established.
Those who may be interested in the details of the subject can find a
complete account of them in a book I have recently published, in
French, on the "Tropical pathological chemistry of the Atlantic
region" (13).

Experimental. If the quantities of soluble and total calcium,
and also of volatile fatty acids, in feces, are determined by means of

G. Dclgado Palacios

8i

reliable methods/ it is found that these substances present parallel
variations, and that the proportions of soluble calcium and volatile
fatty acids are greater in calcariuric patients than in normal persons.
Similar variations, though greater, are observed in diabetics, who, I
believe, suffer from calcariuria and lipaciduria, sometimes with the
greatest intensity. In the urine of all these persons the quan-
tities of calcium and volatile fatty acids show correlative variations.
Some of the figures obtained in these connections, for normal and
calcariuric persons, are appended.

Normal individuals

Name

Soluble calcium
CaO gm.

Total calcium
CaO gm.

Soluble calcium:

percent of

total Ca

B.deT...
A. C

100 gm. of feces contained

100 gm. of feces contained

0.167
0.146

1.321
1-705

12.6

8.6

Volume cc.

Calcium
CaO gm.

B.deT...
A. C

24 hour urine.
24 hour urine .

973
1231

0.312
0.224

Calcariuric patients

Soluble calcium
CaO gm.

Total calcium
CaO gm.

Soluble calcium :

percent of

total Ca

F.W

L. C

100 gm. of feces contained

100 gm. of feces contained

0.2890
0.5340

0.4767
1.0293

60.6
51.9

F. W.
L. C.

24 hour urine.
24 hour urine .

Volume cc.

3.202
1-939

Calcium
CaO gm.

0.576
0.512

These analytic results are fundamentally opposed to Soetbeer's
assumption that the diminished quantity of fecal calcium in such pa-
tients is due to special Colitis, which impedes the excretion of ab-
sorbed calcium, the latter being eliminated compensatorily by the
kidney. From the analytic data above, it may be observed that in
the patients in which the total intestinal excretion of calcium ought
to be impeded and least, the Proportion of fecal soluble-calciimi is
greatest.

1 Calcium was quantitatively estimated by the Neubauer-Huppert method
(14), slightly modified, and volatile fatty acids by the Schmidt and Strasburger
method (15).

82 "Retrograde Circulation of Calcium

)}

Comparative determinations of the volatile fatty acids in 24
hour urines, from both kinds of individuals, reveal similar varia-
tions. The volatile fatty acids were quantitatively estimated, in this
case, by the Strauss and Philippsohn method (16), and expressed in
cc. of decinormal sol. of sodium hydroxid.

Normal individnals Calcariuric patients

Name cc. cc.

F. W 58.0

L. C 49.2

B. de T 28.1

A. C 21.3

In a case of severe diabetes, which was studied extensively in
these directions, the proportions of soluble calcium and volatile fatty
acids in the feces and urine were very striking, and suggested pas-
sage of large proportions of both substances from the feces to the
urine, as in the case of many other urinary substances of fecal origin.
The following data, obtained in this interesting case, show an in-
verted relation between the fecal and the urinary calcium.

Urine : Volume, in 24 hours, 12,950 cc.

Volatile fatty acids (h/ig NaOH sol.), 838.5 cc.

Calcium, as CaO, 2.226 gm.

Feces : Soft evacuation, obtained with a drastic, 1239.0 gm.

Soluble calcium, as CaO, 1-073 giri-

Total calcium, as CaO, 1.121 gm.

Soluble lime : percent of total Ca, 95.7 percent

Volatile fatty acids ("/lo NaOH sol.), 1593-0 cc

These experimental premises being established, it is entirely
rational to believe that the volatile fatty acids arising during the
Stagnation and putrefaction of fecal matter, may produce soluble
calcium salts by attacking the carbonates and phosphates of calcium
that occur abundantly in every feces. By reabsorption ("retro-
grade circulation "), such soluble calcium salts pass directly into the
blood, where, unlike the alkali salts of the same acids, they are not
destroyed by oxidation, but finally appear in the urine. The forma-
tion of such soluble calcium salts in the feces may be easily imag-
ined to occur, considering the nature of the putrefactive and fer-
mentative processes in the large intestine. As a matter of fact, the
addition to feces of a few drops of volatile fatty acid increases

G. Delgado Palacios 83

largely its content of soluble calcium, as the following experimental
data among others, clearly show.

Three ecjual weights of a given specimen of feces were treated
with equal volumes of distilled water. To one portion, 2 to 3 drops
of acetic acid sol. were added; to another, 2 to 3 drops of ammo-
nium hydroxid sol, and each mixture rendered homogeneous by thor-
ough stirring. The extracts were then filtered and the quantities of
calcium in the filtrates determined, with the following results :

Calcium, CaO

200 c.c. of fecal extract with distilled water 0.0314 gm.

200 c.c. of fecal extract with dilute acetic acid 0.2170 gm.

200 c.c. of fecal extract with dilute ammonia 0.0225 gm.

In Order further to test my general conclusion, I made direct ex-
periments, on men, by means of rectal injections of Solutions of
ammoniacal and calcareous salts of volatile fatty acids. These ex-
periments have shown that the ammoniacal salts cause strong poly-
uria, whereas the calcareous induce marked hypouria. The ammo-
niacal injections were prepared with ammonia (3.825 gm. of NH3)
neutralized with butyric acid in the presence of rosolic acid and made
up to 100 cc. The calcareous injections were prepared with 5 cc. of
pure acetic acid neutralized with carbonate of lime, filtered, washed,
and made up to 100 cc. The daily quantity was diluted four or
five times with water and fractionally injected, in each case. Below
are recorded the results of an experiment on a given individual dur-
ing four periods of several days each. Throughout the experiment
the daily urine was collected and analyzed. Only the averages for
each period are given below. (The daily data for this and similar
experiments may be found in the book referred to above (13).)

Calcium CaO, Volatile fatty acid

Volume, cc. gm. (»/loNaOH sol.),cc.

First period. Normal conditions

Daily averages 1290.6 0.2426 24.51

Second period. Polyurie effect of injected butyrate of ammonia

Daily averages 2248.0 0.2989 31-56

Third period. Hypouric effect of injected acetate of calcium

Daily averages 1384.0 0.4503 68.7

Fourth period. Polyuria provoked by ingested water; no injections

Daily averages 1769.2 0.2558 25.38

- This average does not show the füll hypouric effect of calcium acetate,
though its action was very strong. This period followed the period of polyuria
but, notwithstanding this fact, the volume of urine in the latter part of the
period was below normal.

84 "Retrograde Circiilation of Calcium"

These analytic results show that the proportions of calcium and
volatile fatty acids are practically uniform in the urine of the same
person, under normal conditions and during the polyuria produced
by the drinking of an abundance of water. The rectal absorption of
calcium salts of volatile fatty acids produces a simultaneous, rapid,
and striking increase of both calcium and fatty acid in the urine. "
The small increase of volatile fatty acid in the urine above normal or
above the polyuria potatoria, after rectal injection of ammonium
butyrate, is not due to direct passage into the urine of the absorbed
fatty acids in combination with ammonia. This small increase may
be explained by a formation of calcium salts through the solvent
action of the ammonium butyrate sol. on the carbonates and phos-
phates of calcium that occur abundantly in every feces, as a simple
and direct experiment on feces shows (similar to the one mentioned
before). Anexact investigation of the nature of the volatile fatty
acids in the urines of persons submitted to the action of rectal injec-
tions shows that butyric or acetic acid predominates in the urine
when rectal injection of a salt of one or the other of these acids
is used. Finally, by a suitable mixture of both kinds of salts (am-
monium and calcium), it is possible to obtain simultaneously the
polyuria, the calcariuria and the lipaciduria, as they occur in diabetes.
The polyuria is induced by the salt that yields urea (17).

General deductions. The foregoing data show that calcium,
and with it volatile fatty acids, describe a very interesting " retro-
grade circulation" in the human body, the biological mechanism of
which has not hitherto been demonstrated. The calcium and vola-
tile fatty acids in urine are generally considered final products or
residues of tissue metabolism. These investigations demonstrate that
the presence of most of each substance in the urine may be explained
by the " retrograde circulation of the calcium," which is initiated by
intestinal putref action.

Although in the present State of our knowledge of this subject, it
is impossible to say that all the calcium and all the volatile fatty
acids of the urine have the exclusive intestinal and bacterial origin
above mentioned, nevertheless the data at band Warrant the convic-
tion, already expressed, that most of each arises in the manner sug-

G. Dclgado Palacios 85

gested. It is also impossible to say, at present, whether the calcium
that is normally absorbed from ingested food is excreted exclusively
by the intestinal mucous membrane or whether a portion of it is
also eliminated in the urine. Many reasons, and the results of nu-
merous experiments which cannot be explained here, are entirely
favorable to the first of these two possibilities.

Calcariuria and lipaciduria, which are very commonly observed
in diabetes and other maladies, may be explained by the " retrograde
circulation of calcium." This view, if verified by experiment,
would modify very profoundly our conception of the nature of these
diseases, which are considered today, perhaps too exclusively, " nu-
tritional " disturbances.

The part which the calcium of " retrograde absorption " plays in
the pathogeny of arteriosclerosis is a very important matter for con-
sideration. Those who may be interested in this phase of the sub-
ject will find a description of an extensive study of it, in the book
referred to above (13).

[The author of this paper is now in the United States and may be
addressed in care of the Biochemical Bulletin, Ed.]

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. LoEPER and Bechamp: Compt. rend. de la soc. de bioL, 23 Juillet,

1910.

2. Albu and Neuberg: Physiologie und Pathologie des Mineral-

stoffwechsels, Berlin, 1906, p. 116.

3. V. NooRDEN and Belgrad: Berl. klin. Wochenschr., 1894, No. 10.

4. Blauberg: Zeitschr. f. BioL, 1900, xxii, p. 36.

5. MÜLLER : Virchoufs Archiv, 1893, cxxxi ; Supplementheft, pp. 2, 52.

6. Tigerstedt: Skand. Archiv f. PhysioL, 1904, xvi, p. 67.

7. Renvall: Ibid., p. 94.

8. Salomon and Wallace: Medizin. Klinik, 1909, No. 16.

9. Voit: Zeitschr. f. BioL, 1892, xxix, p. 325.

IG. Salkowski: Virchov/s Archiv, 1871, liii, p. 209.

11. Ury : Deutsche med. Wochenschr., 1901, No. 41.

12. Soetbeer: Jahr. f. Kinderheilk., 1902, p. i.

13. Palacios: Chimie pathologique tropicale de la region Atiantique,

86 "Retrograde Circulation of Calcium"

Brentano's, New York, 1914. (Referred to by Gies in a brief
review: Biochem. Bull., 1914, iii, p. 537.)

14. Neubauer-Huppert : Analyse des Harns, Wiesbaden ; 1898, p.

746.

15. Schmidt and Strasburger: Die Fäzes des Menschen, p. 224.

16. Strauss and Philippsohn : Zeitschr. f. Min. Med., 1900, xl, p. 369.

17. Palacios: Extraphysiological or putrefactive urea; Amer. Jour. of

Med. Sciences, 1915, cxlix, p. 267.

A SIMPLE, EFFICIENT, AND ECONOMIC FILTER

Its application to the filtration of the yellow precipitate in
phosphoric-acid estimations^

S. L. JODIDI AND E. H. KELLOGG

{Office of Plant Physiological and Fermentation Investigations, Bureau of Plant
Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.)

(Received for publication, July 21, 1915).

Introduction. General considerations in connection with our
work on the chestnut-blight disease led us to make phosphoric-acid
determinations for the various barks, healthy and infected, in ac-
cordance with Neumann's^ method. It was soon found by the
senior author^ that while Neumann's method is rehable and con-
venient, the calculation- facto r, 0.554, is too low under certain con-
ditions, a finding- in füll agreement with the work of Heubner.^
Further investigation^ revealed the fact that the amount of water
used for washing the yellow precipitate has a certain influence on
the calculation-factor. While the work according to Neumann's
method was going on, we were impressed by the fact that the filtra-
tion of the ammonium-phosphomolybdate precipitate through a
folded filter, as recommended by Neumann, is a tedious and time-
consuming Operation. A search for a better filtering medium finally
led US to the paper-pulp filter.

New mechanical devices, like new chemical methods, are of
more or less importance to science, which is true, e. g., of the well-
known Gooch crucible (as well as of the Munroe^ crucible) , the intro-

1 Presented at the Second Pan-American Scientific Congress, Washington,
D. C, January 4, 1915, and published by permission of the Secretary of Agri-
culture.

2 Neumann: Z. physiol. Chem. 37, 129 (1902-03) ; 43, 35 (i904-0S)-

3 Jodidi : Journ. Amer. Chem. Soc., 37, 1708 (i9i5)-
^Heubner: Biochem. Z., 64, 393 (1914).

5 Jodidi and Kellogg: Jour. Franklin Institute, 180, 349 (i9i5)-
«Munroe: Chem. News, 58, loi (1888) ; Jour. Analyt. Chem., 2, 241 (1888).

87

88 A Simple, Efficient, and Economic Filter

duction of which meant marked progress in analytical chemistry.
The use of the Gooch crucible in connection with the asbestos filter
enables one to save time and labor, and also to obtain very accurate
results. A disadvantage, however, lies in the fact that the prepara-
tion of a good asbestos filter requires some skill and presumes the
use of asbestos that is soft, long-fibred and cut into uniform, small
pieces, etc. The paper-pulp filter, on the other band, is exceedingly
easy to prepare, being so efficient and economic that it seems worth
while to describe it in some detail.

Preparation of filter-paper pulp. When good filter paper
is at band, such as ashless filter paper washed with hydrochloric and
hydrofluoric acids, Swedish or S. & S. filter paper, all that is neces-
sary is to transfer some of it to a flask, to add a sufficient quantity
of distilled water, and to shake the stoppered flask vigorously for a
minute or two. The paper is now reduced to pulp (it appears to the
naked eye to consist chiefly of separate or coherent fibers and of
flake-like fragments), which is ready for immediate use. In case
the pulp is too thin or too thick, it can easily be corrected by pouring
off some of the supernatant liquid, on standing, or by adding more
distilled water and shaking until a Suspension of the desired con-
sistency is obtained. We have found that by using a S. & S. filter,
12.5 cm. in diameter, 100-150 c.c. of distilled water is the proper
amount to apply for the reduction of the paper to a Suspension with
which it is easy to make a good pulp-filter. In other words, one
I sq. c. of filter paper of ordinary thickness requires about i c.c. of
water for its reduction to a well filtering pulp.

If only common filter paper is at band, and it is desirable to free
it from some of its mineral constituents, it is first reduced to pulp
with distilled water, whereupon mineral acid, usually hydrochloric
or nitric, is added, to a conc. of from 2 to 10 percent. The acid-
containing pulp is allowed to stand at room-temperature for an hour
or more, depending on the conc. of the acid and the object sought.
The pulp is now thrown on a large porcelain filter-plate, or, most
conveniently, on a Buchner funnel, and washed free from acid with
distilled water. The washed pulp is transferred to a flask where, on
mixing with the necessary amount of distilled water, it is kept ready

S. L. Jodidi and E. H. Kellogg 89

for use. Unlike the asbestos filter, the paper pulp should in no case
be heated with strong acid (or alkali) since, by such treatment, it is
converted into a more or less sticky mass which is no longer fit as
a filtering medium.

Preparation of paper-pulp FILTERS. A pulp filter can be
used either in connection with a perforated porcelain-plate in a fun-
nel or with a Gooch crucible. While the pulp filter can be prepared
in a variety of ways we have found the following convenient : The
Gooch crucible is connected with a suction flask, by means of rubber
tubing, funnel and rubber stopper, exactly in the same manner as in
the case of an asbestos filter. Care should be taken that the bottom
of the Gooch crucible is level. The crucible is now filled with paper
pulp and suction is gently started until all of the water is filtered
out, whereupon the suction valve is closed. The filling of the cru-
cible with paper pulp, etc., is repeated once or twice. The filter,
\Vhich is about 2 mm. thick, is now ready for use, namely, for the
filtration of precipitates to be estimated acidimetrically, as in the
case of the ammonium-phosphomolybdate precipitate. If it is de-
sired to use the paper-pulp filter for gravimetric analysis, the pulp
filter prepared as described above is washed with distilled water until
paper fibers no longer run through.

Efficiency of the paper-pulp FILTER. The pulp filter com-
bines the rapidity of an asbestos filter with the accuracy of a good
paper-filter. In fact, the pulp filter is superior to both of them in
several respects. Tightly clinging, as it does, to the bottom and
walls of the Gooch crucible, the pulp filter easily retains fine pre-
cipitates, such as that of ammonium-phosphomolybdate, despite
rapid filtration. There is ample evidence in the literature that the
filtration of the yellow precipitate caused considerable difficulties.
Neumann'^ himself recommended that, prior to the filtration of the
yellow precipitate, the filter be filled with ice-cold water, which
causes the filter pores to contract and thus prevents the very fine
precipitate in the warm Solution from going through the filter. As
a matter of fact, in spite of the frequent use of ice-cold water,
the filtrate from the yellow precipitate is occasionally turbid, which
makes a second and even a third refiltration imperative.

7 Neumann: Z. physiol. Chem., 37, 134 (1902-03).

90 A Simple, Efficienfj and Economic Filter

Plimmer and Bayliss,^ who made phosphoric-acid estimations
according to Neumann's method, wrote as follows in this connec-
tion : " The greatest difficulty, however, occurred in the filtration of
the precipitate of ammonium phosphomolybdate and the washing of
it free from acid. This was found to be extremely slow. . . . We
have obtained this (a more speedy method) by employing a special
pattern of filtering tube." . . . Their apparatus, however, is far from
being simple and easy to handle. Wardlaw^ recently stated in this
connection, that an attempt made by him to wash the precipitate by
suction in the manner recommended by Plimmer and Bayliss, was
unsuccessful since " in every case it was found impossible to pre-
vent visible amounts of the precipitate from passing through the
filter."

While the Gooch crucible in connection with the asbestos filter is
of excellent Service in analytical chemistry, the preparation of a
good asbestos filter requires some experience and is not satisfactory
in all cases. In our experience, for instance, the asbestos filter,
unless prepared with the iitmost care, permits small amounts of
ammonium-phosphomolybdate precipitate to pass through. To be
sure, the amount of yellow precipitate which may thus pass into the
filtrate is usually slight, but in cases where only a small amount of
phosphorus is involved the error is not quite negligible. The pulp
filter, on the other hand, so completely retains the yellow precipitate,
that out of ninety conseciitive analyses, in which the phosphorus was
precipitated as ammonium phosphomolybdate, all filtrates were abso-
lutely water-clear, not showing the slightest turbidity or the faintest
yellow color. By employing a few mgm. of phosphorus, in such
tests, the available yellow precipitate can be separated by filtra-
tion and washed in about five minutes. This enables one to
run conveniently three or four times as many phosphoric-acid esti-
mations as is possible by the filtration of the yellow precipitate
through a folded filter, which, by the way, is a very tedious Opera-
tion. The work with the pulp filter has still another advantage in
that the liquids to be titrated contain a considerably smaller amount
of paper pulp, and further that, because of the rapid filtration and

8 Plimmer and Bayliss: Jour. of Physiol., 33, 441 (1905-06).
"Wardlaw: Jour. Proc. Roy. Soc. N. S. Wales, 48, 78 (1914).

S. L. Jodidi and E. H. Kellogg 91

washing, no bluish color (due to slight reduction) appears, so that
the endpoint of the titration of the ammoniiim phosphomolybdate
can be ascertained much more distinctly.

ECONOMY OF THE PAPER PULP FILTER. Ten S. & S. filtcrs, 12. 5

cm. in diameter, were shaken with about 1200 c.c. of distilled water^
and the resultant pulp used for the filtration of yellow precipitates
obtained in a definite way.^^ It was found that the pulp was suffi-
cient for the filtration of 42 individual precipitates of ammonium
phosphomolybdate. Another lot of ten filters, reduced to pulp, gave
exactly the same result. In other words, ten filters which, when
used as such, would sufiice for ten analyses only, were, in the form
of pulp, sufiicient for 42 analyses — a reduction in the use of filter
paper to 2 1 .4 percent. The actual saving is greater, however, when we
consider that filters, in order to be fit for use in quantitative analysis,
must be faultless, which they sometimes are not. On the other
hand, paper pulp, when used for Volumetrie analysis, may be made
of any filter paper; for instance, of broken and faulty filters, of
sheet filter-paper, of filter-paper waste, etc. Only when the paper
pulp is to be employed for gravimetric analysis is it advantageous to
prepare the pulp from ashless filter-paper.

When this paper was ready for publication we noticed an article
by Raper,^^ who mentioned, in but three sentences, the employment
of a pulp filter for the Separation of the ammonium-phosphomolyb-
date precipitate.

Below are given the results of phosphoric-acid estimations show-
ing how completely the ammonium-phosphomolybdate precipitate is
retained by the pulp filter, despite the fact that the filtration of the
yellow precipitate and its repeated washing on the pulp takes only
about five minutes.

Ten grams of crystallized disodium hydrogen phosphate were
dissolved in water and made up to 5 liters. Of this sol. four por-
tions (250 c.c. each) were analyzed gravimetrically. They were
found to yield 0.1756, 0.1754, 0.1757 and 0.1753, respectively, with
a mean of 0.1755, gm. of magnesium pyro-phosphate, which is
equivalent to 0.1955 mg. of phosphorus per c.c. of sol.

i*' Jodidi: Jonr. Amer. Chem. Soc, 37, 1709 (1915).
iiRaper: Biochcm. Jour., 8, 652 (1914).

92

A Simple, Efficient, and Economic Filter

In eight portions of the same sol. (25 c.c. each) the phosphorus
was precipitated as ammonium phosphomolybdate, which was fil-
tered (and washed) on a 12.5 cm. folded filter in accordance with
the directions given by Neumann. The resuhs are recorded in the
accompanying table (i).

TABLE I

Data pertaining to the comparative efficiency of the pulp filter and the folded

filter. (See also Table 2)

No. of analysis

For neutralization of

the yellow precipitate:

»/2 NaOH sol., c.c.

No.of
analysis

For neutralization of

the yellow precipitate:

«/2NaOH sol., c.c.

Phosphorus found (cal-

culation-factor: 0.554),

mgm.

I
2

3
4

8.78
8.72
8.75
8.75

5
6

7
8

8.73
8.72
8.80
8.81

Average (1-8). . .

8.76

4-853 =99-3 percent.

In nineteen other portions of the same sol. (25 c.c. each) the
yellow precipitate was filtered through a pulp filter prepared in the
manner already described. (During filtration and the washing of
the ammonium-phosphomolybdate precipitate, gentle suction must
be maintained, otherwise the pulp filter would be packed down
too tightly and filtration retarded.) Unlike filtration through a
folded filter, where decantation takes place, practically all of the
yellow precipitate was thrown on the pulp filter, whereupon the
precipitation flask was washed with about 25 c.c. of distilled water,
which was filtered through the pulp. This was repeated twice.
The last washings were always found to be neutral. The further
treatment of the washed yellow precipitate was exactly as outlined
elsewhere,^^ with the only difiference that no blanks were subtracted
from the n/2 sodium hydroxid sol. used for the neutralization of
the yellow precipitates referred to in the accompanying three tables.
Table 2 presents our data in this connection.

A glance at Tables i and 2 shows that the work with the pulp
filter gave results as accurate as those with the paper filter, and
required considerably less labor and time.

Neumann^^ laid stress on the use of ice-cold water for washing

i2Jodidi and Kellogg: Jour. Frankl. Institute, 180, 349 (1915).
13 Neumann : Z. physiol. Chem., 37, 132 (1902-03).

5". L. Jodidi and E. H. Kellogg

93

TABLE 2

Data pertaining to the comparative cfficicncy of the ptilp filter and the folded

filter. {See also Table i)

For neutralization of

No. of
analysis

For neutralization of

Phosphotus found (cal-

No. of analysis

the yellow precipitate :

the yellow precipitate:

culation-factor: 0.554),
mgra.

«,'2 NaOH sol., c.c.

nh NaOH sol., c.c.

I

8.80

10

8.75

2

8.69

II

8.70

3

8.79

12

8.71

4

8.71

13

8.73

S

8.75

14

8.76

6

8.70

15

8.82

7

8.78

16

8.80

8

8.71

17

8.77

9

8.7S

18
19

8.75
8.72

Average (1-19)..

8.75

4.848 =99-2 percent.

the ammoniiim-phosphomolybdate precipitate, which is not abso-
lutely insoluble in water. Inasmuch as the employment of the pulp
filter enables one to accompHsh both the isolation of the yellow pre-
cipitate, and its purification by washing with a small cjuantity of
water, in but five minutes, it was reasonable to asstime that the
results would be the same whether the yellow precipitate is washed
with ice-cold water or with water at room-temperature. Flimmer
and Bayliss^^ expressed the opinion that, with rapid filtration of the
yellow precipitate by means of a special pattern of filtering tube, it is
imnecessary to wash the yellow precipitate with ice-cold water. They
did not give any data confirming their viewpoint, however. Below
are reported the results of a number of phosphoric-acid estimations in
which the yellow precipitates were washed either with ice-cold water
or with water at room-temperature. The phosphate sol. contained
15 gm. of disodium hydrogen phosphate in 5 liters of water. All
of the yellow precipitates, prepared in the manner mentioned above,
were, after filtration, washed with 25 c.c. of distilled water; the
washing was repeated twice. The results are summarized in
Table 3.

A glance at Table 3 shows that the yellow precipitates washed
with ice-cold water required for their neutralization 5.03 c.c. of n/2
sodium hydroxid sol. (total average), while the yellow precipitates

1* Plimmer and Bayliss : Loc. cit.

94

A Simple, Efficient, and Economic Filter

TABLE 3

Data pertaining to thc soltibility of amnionium phosphomolybdate in ice-cold
water and in water at room-temperature

No. of

analy-

sis

Yellow precipitale
washed with

Ice-cold
water

Water at

r om-tem-

perature

No. of
analy-

sis

Yellow precipitate
washed with

Ice-cold
water

Water at
room-tem-
perature

No. of

analy-

sis

Yellow precipitale
washed with

Ice-cold
water

Water at
room-tem-
perature

For neutralization of the washed yellow precipitates nJ2 NaOH sol. was used

C.c.

C.c.

C.C.

C.C.

C.c.

C.c.

I

5-07

—

II

5-04

—

21

4.99

—

2

5-05

—

12

5-05

—

22

4.98

3

5-04

—

13

5.00

—

23

5.00

—

4

5.01

—

14

5.00

—

24

4.98

—

5

5-19

—

15

5-OS

—

25

5-04

Ave.

5-07

503

5. 00

6

—

5-19

i6

—

5.02

26

—

5-02

7

—

5-03

17

—

5.01

27

—

5-01

8

—

5-05

i8

—

5.00

28

—

5-00

9

—

S-07

19

—

5.01

29

—

5-02

10

—

5.16

20

—

5-10

30

—

5-09

Ave.

5.IO

5.03

—

503

washed with water at room temperature required 5.05 c.c. The
difference is so small as to be neghgible.

SuMMARY OF GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. The papcr-pulp filtcr,
its preparation and use, are described in detail.

The efficiency of the pulp filter is shown. This filter not only
combines the acciiracy of the best paper-filters with the rapidity of
the asbestos filter, but even surpasses both of them in some respects.

The great economy of the pulp filter is demonstrated, its employ-
ment efTecting a reduction in the use of filter paper to less than 25
percent.

The advantageous application of the pulp filter to the filtration
of the ammonium-phosphomolybdate precipitate is shown.

STUDIES ON THE RELATION OF CEMENT DUST TO

CITRUS VEGETATION

I. The effect on photosynthesis

H. D. YOUNG*

(Pathological Lahoratory, University of California, Whittier)

(Received for publication, June 20, 1915).

Introduction. The effect of the dust arising from the rotary
kilns, in the manufacture of Portland cement, on the surrounding
Vegetation has been the basis of considerable investigation. In
Southern Cahfornia it has become a problem of importance because
of several characteristic factors. There are here some rather large
cement-plants in the heart of a prosperous citrus district. As this
is naturally a semi-arid cHmate and dependent on irrigation, there
are no frequent rains to wash the dust from the leaves and, since
the trees are not deciduous, the leaves with their dust-coating are
not dropped annually. Because of the great value of the interests
involved, the effect of the dust on the trees has recently been the
subject of a great deal of litigation.

In this connection the possible interference of the dust with
photosynthesis, by excluding the light, was considered. Peirce^
found that orange leaves showed, in halves which had been freed
from dust in the morning, " four or five times as many grains of
starch as those in the covered and shaded half." As this would
mean a very serious interference with photosynthesis, an investiga-
tion was undertaken to see whether or not it held true generally on
dusty leaves.

* The author wishes to express his indebtedness to the Riverside Portland
Cement Company, Riverside, California, which defrayed the expenses of this in-
vestigation, and to Professor R. E. Smith, University of California, for his many
helpful suggestions.

iPeirce: "An effect of cement dust on orange leaves," Plant World, 1910,
13, P. 283.

95

96

Relation of Cement Dust to Citrus Vegetation

CoMPOSiTiON OF DUST FROM ORANGE LEAVES, In Order that
there might be no doubt that the coating found on the leaves was
actually composed of dust from cement-stacks, samples were col-
lected and analyzed. In Table i are given the percentages of
silica, ferric and aluminum oxides, and calcium oxide, for a sample
of the "raw mixture" (the material fed into the kiln at the base
of the Stack), and of three samples of dust-coatings from leaves.
These three samples were taken from trees approximately a half
mile, a mile, and a mile and a half, respectively, from the plant of the
Riverside Portland Cement Co.

TABLE I

Data pertaining to the composition of dust from Stack and from orange leaves

Sample

Si02

FejOa and AI2O3

CaO

Raw mixture

%

15-58
16.45
18.00
10.71

%
5-74
5-51
5-78
7-30

%
43.22

Dust No. I

43.52

Dust No. 2

41.90

Dust No. 3

42.04

The figures in Table i agree closely enough to establish the fact
that the dust on the leaves consisted chiefly of material from the
kiln-stacks.

Amount of dust on leaves. The amount of dust on the leaves
varies greatly, of course. As has already been pointed out, there
is little or no rain here from April to November, a condition that
allows the dust to accumulate to a much greater extent than would
be the case in a humid region. To determine the maximum amount
deposited, a sample of 51 leaves was picked from trees quite close
to the cement-plant in November, 1910. The total green-weight of
the leaves was 29.96 gm. when picked; the total area was 1178.87
cm. The amount of dust was 4.04 gm. or 0.079 gi^i- P^r ^^3.i.

Av. wgt. of leaf

590 mgm.

Av. area

23.11 sq. cm.

Av. amount of dust

79.0 mgm.

Av. amount of dust per
sq. cm.

3.4 mgm.

Percent of light excluded from the leaf by the dust.
Since the primary object of this investigation was to determine the
effect of the dust on photosynthesis. the amount of light excluded

H. D. Young

97

was first studied. Clear glass plates about 2" xß" were placed in a
tray and covered with water having cement-dust in Suspension.
After allowing the dust to settle for 24 hr., the plates were carefuUy
removed and dried. Measurements were taken, with a Luinmer-
Brodhun photometer, of the amount of Hght excluded. The plates
were then cleaned and the dust weighed. The data in this con-
nection are summarized in Table 2.

TABLE 2

Data pertaining to the amount of Hght cut off by a given amount of cement-dust

on glass-plates

Wgt. of dust, per sq.

Amt. of light ex-

No.

Wgt. of dust, per sq.

Amt. of light ex-

No,

cm. of plates

cluded

cm. of plates

cluded

mgm.

%

mgm.

%

I

2.54

93.8

7

3-45

92.8

2

4.18

92.2

8

3-45

91.2

3

16.00

95-5

9

2.36

86.2

4

7-45

9S-0

IG

5-09

86.6

5

4.18

95-3

II

4.00

83.8

6

7.09

96.0

12

1.63

83-3

From the figures previously given it will be seen that numbers
7 and 8 (in Table 2) have almost exactly the same weight of dust,
per sq. cm., as the more heavily covered leaves. It is very probable,
however, that the amount of light excluded by the dust-covered
glass-plates is somwhat in excess of the amount excluded by the
dust-covering of the leaves in the field, since the dust deposited
from Suspension in water is probably more coherent than that de-
posited in a natural way. The degree of exclusion of light by the
natural dust-coating is very difficult to determine directly, since the
Opacity of the leaf itself and its coloration interfere. Considerable
practice in such determinations, however, minimizes the importance
of these sources of error.

A series of determinations, using the leaves themselves, was
made. A number of rather large, very heavily coated, leaves were
taken, and the percent of light transmitted, before and after clean-
ing was determined, the difTerence being the amount of exclusion
due to the dust. See Table 3.

Effect of shading on carbohydrate synthesis. Carbo-
hydrate synthesis in the leaf seemed to offer the easiest measure of

98

Relation of Cement Dust to Citrus Vegetation

TABLE 3

Data pertatni»g to the aniount of Hght cut off by cement-dust on orange leaves

No.

Percent of light excluded by dust

No.

Percent of light excluded by dust

I

80.6

6

68.0

2

82.2

7

82.4

3

79-4

8

90.6

4

75-2

9

67.3

5

70.2

10

86.9

any injury that might be caused by the presence of cement-dust.
Investigation showed that approximately 90 percent of the stomata
were on the under side of the leaf, which remained free from dust.
Very httle interference could, therefore, occur in the gaseous inter-
change between the leaf and the air. If, however, dust excludes so
much light from the leaf that photosynthesis is impaired, it should
be possible to ascertain the extent of this injury by determining the
difference between the total amounts of carbohydrates formed.

Some preliminary work was done on the starch content, by the
well known Sachs method. Leaves which, in the morning, had been
freed from dust on one side of the midrib, were cut off in the even-
ing, and the halves treated separately, The amount of starch was so
great in each half that no satis facto ry conclusion could be drawn
as to any possible difference, either macroscopically or micro-
scopically.

After a number of attempts this method was discarded in favor
of chemical ones. After cleaning the leaves as before, they were
examined according to the methods used by Brown and Morris^ in
their study of the chemistry of leaves. A composite of 25 or 30
leaves was taken, the midrib having been discarded. The leaves were
thoroughly dried the same evening they were cut, ground to pass
through a 0.25 mm. sieve and extracted with ether. The sugars were
extracted with alcohol and determined gravimetrically by the Fehl-
ing method. The residue from the alcoholic extract was " inverted "
by saliva and determined in the same way. Table 4 shows the
results obtained, as expressed in percentage of absolute dry weight.

While the figures show great irregularities, the averages are in

2 Brown and Morris: The chemistry and physiology of foliage leaves.
Journal Chemical Society, 1893, 63, 604-677.

H. D. Young

99

TABLE 4

Data pertaining to carbohydrates in clcaned and uncleaned halves of dusty leaves.

{See also Table 5)

Date, 1910

Total hexose-sugars

Cleaned

Nov.
8

9

10

II

14

15

16

17

21

22

28

29

30

Dec

2

3

4

Average

%
4-25
77

69
63
49

Ol

12
36
29
97
99
34
43

31

48

45

Uncleaned

%
329
3.78
3-80
550
5-13
4-75
5-48
5-86

311
3-71
4.62
4.06
3-81

2.92

3-49
2.38

Starch

Cleaned

Uncleaned

%
3-23
2.83
1.03
1.02

2.59
3-80

5-27
5-36

0.55
0.91

I-I3

I.IO

IIS

1.22
0.83
1.22

%
3-68

2.31

I.Ol

0.92
4.04
2.54
3-II
2.52
0.80
0.73
i-iS
1.63
2.16

0.87
i.ii
I-3I

Total carbohydrates

Cleaned

%
7-48
6.60
4.72
4-65
8.08
6.81

9-39
10.72

3-84
3-88
4.12
6.44
4-58

453
331
4.67

Uncleaned

%
6.97
6.09
4.81
6.42
9.17
7.29

8.59
8.38

3-91

4.44

5-77
5-69
5-97

3-79
4.60

3-69

3-78

4.10

2.07

1.87

5.85

5.97

quite close agreement. The cleaned half-leaf samples seem to con-
tain a little more starch and a little less sugar than the dusty samples,
the total carbohydrate being the same within the limit of error.
The difference between the relative amounts of starch and sugar
may possibly be accounted for by a greater activity of the diastase
of translocation in the less intense light in the shaded half of the leaf.

Repetition of the TESTS. This work was repeated the follow-
ing year with two points in view : to determine whether the differ-
ences might not be greater at a more actively growing season ; and to
determine the relative activity of old and new leaves. On the orange
trees there are always leaves of various ages, from a fev^ days, pos-
sibly, to several years. A comparison of the activities of leaves a
few weeks old with those of a year old would seem to determine
whether any permanent injury to the leaf had taken place, since
the dust does not adhere to the surface of new leaves.

The figures in Table 5 show a much greater formation of carbo-
hydrates than those in Table 4. In Table 5 the difference between
the cleaned and uncleaned samples, as regards starch and sugar,
has disappeared.

loo Relation of Cement Dust to Citrus Vegetation

TABLE 5

Data pertaining to further determinations of carbohydrates in fresh new leaves,
and cleaned and dusty halves of older leaves, front the same tree.

(See also Table 4)

Total hexose-sugars

Starch

Total carbohydrate

Date,
xgxi.

New

Old

New

Old

New

Old

May

Un-
Clean cleaned

Clean cleaned

Clean

Un-
cleaned

I

%
331
3.74
3-53
2.95
3-39
2.97

%
3.78
3-23
3-42
2.82
4.28
4.22

% i % %

%
4-30
4.60
3-10
4-79
5-80
1.42

%
8.86
8.70
8.18
8.12
8.90
5-17

%
9.28

%
•7.80

2

2 08 ' /i.n6

1
363

3-90

4-39

4-45

1.90

6.86 7.';8

■x

3-39
3-48
4.27
2.9s

4-65
5-17
5.SI
2.20

7-32

7.21

8.73
6.12

6.49

4

c

8.27
10.07

6

4-37

Average. . .

3-31

3.62

3-44

4.67

3 96

4.00

7.98

7.58

7-44

As might be expected, the new leaves showed a slightly greater
activity; but this was not enough to imply an injury to the older
leaves.

SUMMARY OF GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. The COating of dust Ott

orange leaves, adjacent to cement plants, corresponds very closely
in composition to the " raw mixture " f rom which cement is made.

The amount of dust on such leaves is often as much as 0.0034
gm. per sq. cm.

This amount of dust may shut out as much as 80 percent of light
from the upper surface of the leaf.

The exclusion of light from the upper surface of the leaf, by
such dust, does not interfere with carbohydrate synthesis.

The metabolic activity of new leaves was only very slightly
greater than that of old leaves.

Leaves analyzed in May contained nearly one-third more total
carbohydrate than those analyzed in November and December.

ASSOCIATIONS AND SOCIETIES
Proceedings and items of interest to biochemists

PAUL E. HOWE

PrEPAJRED CHIEFLY FROM REPORTS BY SECRETARIES

Contents

Page

I. Soc. Public Analysts and other Anal. Chemists, E. Richards Bolton, Sec'y loi

IL Biochemical Society, England, R. H. A. Flimmer, Sec'y 109

III. Papers of biochemical interest (titles) in the proc. of several soc iio

IV. References to society proceedings 112

V. Officers-elect of various societies 113

L SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ANALYSTS AND OTHER ANALYTICAL

CHEMISTS

E. Richards Bolton, Secretary

A. The Annual General Meeting of the Society of Public Ana-
lysts and other Analytical Chemists was held at the Chem. Soc.
Rooms, Burlington House, on Wed. evening, 2nd Feb. 191 6, when
the Pres't, Mr. A. Chaston Chapman, delivered his Annual Address.

President's Address. Mr. Chapman said : Once again it is my
lot to review the activities of our Society during a period of such
intense and universal stress and strain as finds no parallel in the
world's history. Since my last Annual Address was delivered, the
deadly struggle has continued without intermission, and if that
struggle has brought untold suffering and misery to millions of our
fellow-beings, there is, happily, some good to be placed to the other
side of the terrible account.

As a nation we have in the past shown a neglect of Science which
has very nearly been our undoing, and although from time to time
grave warnings have been uttered and powerful appeals have been
made, these have for the most part fallen upon deaf ears. Now, as
a result of the inflexible logic of events, the nation is beginning to
realise the error of its ways, and never again can Chemistry and the

lOI

I02 Associations and Societies

other experimental sciences consent to be relegated to the humble
Position they have so long occupied in the national esteem.

For the successful prosecution of the war, and still more for the
general development and industrial protection of the country dur-
ing the very difficult period which must follow the cessation of
hostilities, all our best scientific brains will be needed, and all the
energy and scientific Organisation of which we are capable.

Among the many lessons which we are learning as the result of
the war, not the least important is the fact that Experimental Sci-
ence in general, and Chemistry in particular, is not merely an inter-
esting intellectual occupation, but one of the foundation-stones on
which national progress rests, and that its continued neglect could
only lead to disaster, and end in our complete defeat by more pro-
gressive and far-seeing nations.

The ignorance of the value of scientific knowledge shown by our
people is very great, and, unfortunately, many of our rulers are
little, if at all, better informed. As a consequence, much inertia still
remains to be overcome, and a great deal of leeway has to be made
up. Happily, signs are not wanting that we are at last directing our
footsteps on the right path, and those of us who know, and who
have the real interests of their country truly at heart, will earnestly
pray that our progress along that path may be certain and rapid.

I müst now pass on to a matter which has very closely con-
cerned many of our members during the past year. I refer to the
recruiting of chemists for active military service. One of the penal-
ties which a country has to pay for unpreparedness for war — a
penalty which is greatly increased by adherence to the voluntary
System — is an immense waste both of human material and of treas-
ure. Men who, by their training and experience, are absolutely
necessary in their civil occupations for the weif are of the country —
both in war and in peace — offer themselves, and are accepted for
military work which could in many cases be at least equally well
performed by men who could be more readily spared.

At the outbreak of war, the authorities were seemingly unaware
of the vast and multifarious Services rendered to the State by pro-
fessional chemists, and of the extent to which the welfare of the
nation depended upon the adequate utilisation of their Services. As

Society of Public Analysts 103

a result, many hundreds of highly-trained chemists were to a great
extent wasted by being put to military duties which could easily
have been performed by men whose normal activities were of no
special value to a nation at war.

This State of affairs lasted until a few months ago, when the
authorities apparently began to appreciate the facts of the Situation,
and the Board of Trade issued a circular of instructions to local
tribunals under Lord Derby's Scheine, together with a " list of occu-
pations (reserved occupations) of cardinal importance for the
maintenance of some other branches of trade and industry." Since
then the Board of Trade has issued a further schedule of " reserved
occupations," in which occurs the following important paragraph:
"Chemists: Analytical, Consulting Research Chemists (not to be
accepted for immediate enlistment or called up for service with the
Colours without the consent of the Royal Society) ; Chemical
Laboratories : Head Laboratory Attendants."

It will have been noticed that chemists are not only not to be en-
listed, but are not allowed to enlist without the express permission
of a recognised body, the only other persons in the schedule who are
treated similarly being " licensed pilots, ofificers, and crews of ves-
sels belonging to the General Lighthouse Authorities, and light-
house-keepers " — that is to say, men whose Services are absolutely
essential for the public safety.

This is one of the signs of public recognition to which I referred
at the commencement of my remarks, and there are indications that
others will be forthcoming. It only remains in this connection to
say that the President of the Royal Society has appointed a com-
mittee to assist the Royal Society in connection with matters relat-
ing to recruiting, and that, as President of this Society, I have been
invited to serve on that body.

During the past eighteen months the columns of the technical
and of the general press have been inundated with letters and with
articles bewailing the neglect of chemical science in this country,
and deploring the want of appreciation of the Services of chemists
so often shown by manufacturers.

That we have shamefully neglected the claims of science is a
fact of which many of us have been painfully aware for a good

I04 Associations and Societies

many years, and one which through the stern teaching of the war
is gradually being brought home to the bulk of the nation. This,
however, is a matter which is intimately bound up with our whole
System of education, and until that System has been thoroughly re-
formed it is hopeless to expect that chemistry and the other experi-
mental sciences will take their proper position.

So far as our Colleges are concerned, I feel very strongly that a
more thorough training in analytical chemistry is desirable, and I
would, in addition, venture to suggest that the present curriculum
of those chemical students who intend to become professional chem-
ists should, whenever possible, be amplified so as to include a f urther
year of study.

During this post-graduate year, the Student should be trained by
thoroughly competent and specially-selected teachers under condi-
tions approximating more to those of the technical than to those of
the academic laboratory.

During his academic course of practical work the Student is very
properly taught that accuracy is the first consideration, and the
factor time, which is so important in the works laboratory, scarcely
enters into his calculations. Again, he has been taught to work on a
small Scale, has little or no knowledge of the disturbing influence of
mass, and has never learned to think in terms of large scale Opera-
tions. He has not, moreover, acquired even the most elementary
knowledge of engineering, and does not know how to construct or
to interpret even the simplest drawings of plant.

During this additional year of study I am far from suggesting
that the Student should attempt to familiarise himself with any one
special brauch of applied chemistry ; but I feel convinced that, under
the working conditions I have in mind, he would acquire a new
mental attitude and a new way of looking at chemical problems
which would do much to bridge over the gap which exists at present
between his academic studies and his work in the factory. Even
with this additional knowledge the young chemist must, if disap-
pointment is to be avoided, realise that he has much to learn, and
that a good deal of his f urther technical training will have to be
done at the expense of his employer.

Whilst words fail to express the indignation which one some-

Society of Public Analysts 105

times feels at the miserable wages (the word "salary" would be
out of place) offered to men who have devoted several years and a
not inconsiderable sum of money to their training, yet, on the other
band, the young chemist seeking a position should remember that
his future lies very largely in bis own hands. The chemical manu-
facturer is not a philanthropist, neither is he a fool. Whilst he is
obviously disinclined to pay a big salary or to make a binding agree-
ment until he knows something of the capabilities of the man he is
engaging, he will be equally anxious not to lose that man's Services
should he prove himself thoroughly capable and useful.

Again, the manufacturer on his side must understand that in
engaging the Services of a young chemist from one of our Univer-
sities he is getting the partly-manufactured material, and not the
finished product. He should be told that his future employee is
merely a v^^ell-trained apprentice who knows how to use the tools of
his craft, but who will have to be given time in which to find his
feet and to learn something of the new conditions under which he
will have to work. It is here that our University Professors can do
much to prevent misunderstanding and disappointment by pointing
out to manufacturers the limitations of the men whom they may be
recommending.

A good many manufacturers (I am not, of course, referring to
the heads of large concems where many chemists are employed, and
where their functions are thoroughly well understood and appreci-
ated) do not always know very clearly what they want. They have
a vague idea that some sort of chemical assistance is necessary in a
modern factory, and they consequently go to one of our Colleges and
State that they want "a chemist." As one of the objects of our
Colleges is very properly to find employment for the men they have
trained, he is offered the Services of a man who has perhaps just
finished his chemical course, but who knows little or nothing of the
nature of industrial chemistry or the requirements of the factory.
He has done his work industriously and well, and perhaps with dis-
tinction, and his Professor is obviously justified on general grounds
in recommending him highly.

It is at this point, however, that the trouble to which I have
alluded commences for the young man in question is offered to the

io6 Associatioris and Societies

manufacturer labelled " chemlst " vvithout any qualification at all.
As a very general rule no intimation is given to the manufacturer
that his prospective employee is little more than a senior Student,
and, in the absence of any statement to the contrary, there is some
justification for regarding him as thoroughly competent not only
to carry out the routine work of the factory, but also to undertake
industrial research, to cheapen production, and to effect improve-
ments in the manufacuring processes concerned. At the end of the
year, in many cases, nothing very definite had resulted, no addi-
tional profit had been made; and there is no obvious improvement
in the factory working; and the manufacturer is very apt to give
emphatic expression to his disappointment, and to inveigh against
science in general and chemistry in particular.

I need scarcely say that I do not overlook the very numerous
cases in which young chemists fresh from our College laboratories
have entered factories, and have most thoroughly justified them-
selves in every possible way, nor do I desire to exaggerate in the
slightest degree the extent of the difficulty to which I have referred.
I have merely called attention to a State of affairs which does, un-
happily, exist, and which, owing to its unfortunate consequences, is
one for which the chemical profession should urgently seek a
remedy.

I wish it to be understood, moreover, that my remarks apply
especially to the general works chemists, to whom is entrusted the
testing of the raw materials and finished products, and the exercise
of a general scientific supervision. With the more important ques-
tion of industrial chemical research it is quite impossible to deal
within the limits — which, I fear, have already been overstepped —
of an Annual Address. I would only say that chemists competent
to initiate and to carry through to a successful issue the kind of
investigations which are of importance to manufacturers are, com-
paratively speaking, few in number, and that the chemical investi-
gator, like the poet, must be born. He may be shaped, but he cer-
tainly cannot be made, and it would save not a little disappointment
if it were recognised more generally on the industrial side that men
possessing all the special qualities of intellect and of character which
go to make a successful chemical investigator are not very fre-

Society of Public Aiialysts 107

quently combined in any one man, and that the chances of obtaining
the Services of such a man in a more or less haphazard way, and at
a salary which would be rejected with scorn by many an artisan,
are not very great.

Summarising the points on which I have briefly touched in this
address, I would appeal for —

1. Greater s>'mpathy, freer intercourse, and closer co-operation
between the two great branches of the chemical profession — the
teachers and the practitioners.

2. The estabhshment of Chairs of Analytical Chemistry in our
Universities and Colleges as a practica! step towards securing the
more adequate treatment of that important branch of our science.

3. The more general provision in our Universities and Colleges
of post-graduate facilities for acquiring a good general knowledge
of certain subjects which form an indispensable part of the pro-
fessional equipment of every technical chemist.

Officers and Council for 1916. The following were elected
the officers and Council for the ensuing year : —

President : George Emhrey.

Past-Presidents Serving on the Council (Limited by the So-
ciety's Articles of Association to 8 in number) : Leonard Archbutt,
Edward J. Bevan, A. Chaston Chapnian, Bernard Dyer, Otto
Hehner, R. R. Tatlock, E. W. Voelcker, J. Augustus Voelcker.

Vice-Presidents : H. G. Colman, J. H. B. Jenkins, R. T.
Thomson.

Hon, Treasurer: Edward Hinks.

Hon. Secretaries: P. A. Ellis Richards, E. Richards Bolton.

Other Members of the Council: W. T. Burgess, J. A. Dew-
hirst, /. T. Dünn, P. V. Dupre, R. G. Grimwood, H. G. Harrison,
E. M. Hawkins, A. W. Knapp, Stevenson J. C. G. Macadam, Wil-
liam Macnab, H. L. Smith, W. Collingwood Williams.

Schedule of meetings for 1915-1916. November 3, December
I, February 2, March i, April 5, May 3, June 7.

B. Ordinary Meeting, 2nd Feb., 1916. Mr. George Embrey,
President, in the Chair.

Messrs. Thomas Featherstone Harvey, Cyril Hubert Manley,
Caryl Cameron Roberts, and Frank Thomas Shiitt were elected

io8 Associations and Societies

members of the society. A certificate was read for the first time in
favour of Mr. Frank Theodore Alpe, " Bracondale," Wymondham,
Norfolk. Certificates were read for the second time in favour of
Messrs. Thomas John Hitchcock, and Nelson Trafalgar Foley.

Abstracts of the papers that were read are appended.

Note on human milk: G. D. Eisdon, B.Sc, F.I.C. Results
of analysis, including data for the fatty portion, were given for two
samples of milk taken on two successive days from the same source.
A table of figures was included for 146 samples of human milk,
6y of which were fully analysed, and 79 partially.

Notes on common processes used in water analysis: W. T.
Burgcss, F.I.C. The author called attention to the several details
in ordinary processes, neglect of which causes unexpected errors in
the determinations; he also dealt with the care of laboratory glass
apparatus.

He stated that the green growths in condensers, which so often
disfigure our laboratory benches, could be almost entirely prevented
by the simple expedient of inserting a long helix of fine and bright
copper wire in the water-jacket, the trace of copper taken up by the
water being sufificient to inhibit the development of the algse.

The author said that he had reasons for believing that the
"nitrometer" method of estimating nitrogen was not in such gen-
eral use as its excellence warranted, and exhibited a slightly modi-
fied apparatus in which the determinations could be made with ex-
pedition. The ordinary measuring tube with single-bore stopcock,
is fitted with a large rubber " cork," of a size sufficient to take a
short length of wide glass tubing which can, when required, be
slipped over the stopcock and the graduated part of the tube. The
pressure tube is carefully selected so that its internal diameter is
exactly the same as that of the measuring tube. The NO is liber-
ated in the usual way, and when the action is completed the pres-
sure tube is clamped so that the level of the mercury is about 40 mm.
below that in the measuring tube. A few drops of distilled water
are then allowed to enter the measuring tube; this water remains
on the top of the turbid, acid, mixture and permits the meniscus to
be seen clearly. The wide glass tube is then slipped on the cork
and filled with water, and after a few minutes the volume of gas

The Biochemical Society, England 109

and the temperature of the water- jacket are recorded. A glass or
celluloid millimeter scale is afterwards placed against the pressure-
tube so that its zero coincides with the level of the mercury; the
stopcock is then opened and the rise of the mercury in the pressure-
tube noted, and as the two tubes are of equal diameter, this number
multipHed by two gives the reduced pressure under which the gas
was measured. The height of the barometer is also taken and the
weight of nitrogen may be calculated in the usual way, or preferably
by the aid of the tables, etc., given in Sutton's Volumetrie analysis.

Poli oil: a new adulterant of Ghee. /. H. Barnes, B.Sc,
F.I.C. and Arjan Singh. The authors deal with the edible seed of
Carthamiis oxyacantha N. O. Compositce, one of the Safflowers,
which is found as a persistent thorny weed, growing with and along-
side the wheat crop in India, from Umballa in the South to Pesha-
war in the North, and is difficult to eradicate.

The seeds produce Poli oil, which they describe as an adulterant

of Ghee (the clarified butter-fat of India). The authors give the

Chemical and physical constants which they have determined for a

genuine sample of the fresh oil, and State that the analyst will have

little difficulty in recognising the adulterant when found in conjunc-

tion with Ghee.

46, Stamford Brook Road, W., London.

II. THE BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY, ENGLAND

R. H. A. Flimmer, Secretary

February 14. Inst, of Physiol., Univ. College, London, W.C.
(5.30 P.M.)^

W. M. Bayliss: Effect of temperature on Inhibition of enzyme
action.

R. H. A. Plimmer: Analysis of proteins. I. Estimation of
arginine by decomposition with alkali.

W. W. Reeve: Note on the preparation of cholesterol.

At the meeting on Dec. 13 the following nominees for member-
ship were elected : F. Camp, Bernard F. Davis, Ingvar Jorgensen,

1 The last two preceding meetings were held on Nov. 8 and Dec. 13. See
Biochemical Bulletin, 1916, v, p. 26.

HO Association^ and Societies

H. King, J. MeUanhy, Hon. H. Onslow, Theodore Rettie, W. W.
Reeve, S. S. Zilva.

In a recent letter to the Biochemical Bulletin Dr. Plimmer
makes the f ollowing Statement of general interest to biol. chemists :
" Our interest in Biochemistry in this country still remains, but the
Output of work is sadly diminished. Most of the scientific workers
are engaged in war-work, either as combatants or indirectly, so that
our future meetings will not be large either in the way of attendance
or of Communications. It is right that every one should work in
some capacity to bring the war to a successful conclusion and as
speedily as possible." [Ed.]

Univcrsity College, London.

III. PAPERS OF BIOCHEMICAL INTEREST (TITLES) IN THE
PROCEEDINGS OF SEVERAL SOCIETIES

Amer. Chem. See, Minn. Sect., Jan. 21 : R. A. Gortner: Am-
mal pigments. — /. F. McClendon: Physiological and biochemical
significance of hydrogen ion concentration.

Amer. Soc. Animal Production: Annual meeting, Kansas
State Agric. Coli, Manhattan, Kansas; Dec. 22-23, ^91 5- — J- ^^
Burns: Cotton-seed meal as feed for hogs. — R. E. Caldwell: Milk
Substitutes for calf feeding. — E. B. Hart and E. V. McCollum: Influ-
ence of strictly vegetable diets on the growth and reproduction of
swine. — H. J. IVaters, IV. A. Cochel and C M. Vestal: Use of food
by swine. — H. S. Grindley and M. E. Slater: Study of the amino-
acid Contents of feeding stuffs. — /. A. Fries: Weak places in the
methods used in animal nutrition investigations. — Sleeter Bull: Study
of the effect of amount of ration consumed upon the rate and effi-
ciency of the gains by fattening steers. — E. B. Forbes: Mineral
metabolism of the milch cow. — W. A. Cochel: Use of grain Sor-
ghums in meat production. — /. C. Ross and H. S. Grindley: Swine
feeding experiments to determine the nutritive value of the amino
acids of feeding stuffs. — C. B. Lee: Measurements of steers in ex-
perimental work. — C. R. Moulton: Relations between blood, proto-
plasmic tissue, and surface area of beef cattle. — H. H. Mitchell and

Papers of Biochemical Intcrest in

R. A. Nelson: Preparation of protein-free milk for use in feeding
experiments on the nutritive value of proteins and amino acids.

Amer. Soc. of Zoologists:^ In Joint session with Section F,
Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sei. and the Amer. Soc. Naturalists, Ohio
State Univ., Columbus, Ohio; Dec. 28-30, 191 5. — W. C. Allee:
Effect of certain ions on rheotaxis in Asellus. — E. J. Lund: Dif-
ferentiation and dedifferentiation in Bursaria and its significance.
— VV. J. Crosier: Loss of cell pigment as an index of perme-
ability changes. — Chas. Zeleny: Rate of regeneration from new
tissues compared with that from old tissues. — 0. C. Glaser: Dis-
tribution of water in the embryonic nervous System. — V. E. Shel-
ford: Comparative resistance of marine animals from different
depths to adverse conditions. — W. J. Cromer: Physiology of chemo-
receptors; Cell penetration by acids: Effects of anesthetics and of
Stimulation by induction shocks. — D. D. Whitney: Sex controlled in
rotifers by food. — A. F. Skull and 6^. Ladoff: Male-production in
Hydatina favored by oxygen. — M. M. Wells: Resistance of starved
and normal fishes to low oxygen and the effect upon this resistance
of acids, alkalies, salts, etc.

Botan. Soc. of Amer. :^ Tenth annual meeting, Columbus,
Ohio, Dec. 27-31, 1915. — E. T. Reichert: Specificity of proteins
and starches in relation to genera, species and varieties. — T. F.
Manns: Rapid methods for quantitative and qualitative studies of
soil flora; Media for quantitative and qualitative studies on azo-
tobacter and nitrifiers. — C. O. Applemann: Relation of catalase and
oxidase to respiration in potato tubers. — G. H. Coons: Lipolytic
action in germinating teliospores of Gymnosporangium juniperi-
virginiance — K. F. Kellerman and R. C. Wright: Action upon soil
nitrogen of certain crops. — F. E. Denny: Permeability of certain
non-living plant membranes to water. — C. A. Shull: Influence of
temperature on the moisture intake of seeds. — C H. Farr: Experi-
ments on galvanotropism. — /. W. Bailey: Structure of the bordered
pits in conifers and its bearing upon the tension hypothesis of the
ascent of sap in plants. — A. H. Chivcrs: Injurious effect of " Tarvia "
fumes on Vegetation. — P. J. O'Gara: New methods and apparatus

2 Proceedings in füll: Science, 1916, xliii, p. 139 and p. 176.

3 Proceedings in füll: Science, 1916, xliii, p. 285, 323 and 360.

1 1 2 Associations and Societies

for determining, qualitatively and quantitatively, the effects of
sulfiir dioxid on plants.

111. Acad. Science: Ninth annual meeting; Univ. of III, Feb.
18-19. — H. S. Grindley: Röle of proteins in the nutrition of ani-
mals. — Sleeter Bull: Conservation of nitrogen in feeding farm
animals.

Nat'l Canners' Assoc. and Allied Industries: Ninth Annual
Convent. ; Louisville, Ky., Feb. 7-1 1, 1916. — H. E. Barnard: Food
officials boosters, not knockers. — Wm. Frear: Principles of standard-
ization. — W. D. Bigelow: Laboratories of the Nat'l Canners' Assoc.
— /. R. Baines: Canned-foods labeis should describe quality clearly
and frankly. — H. E. Otting: Method of determining solids and fats
(in milk) as approved by the Assoc. of Offic. Agric. Chem. — A. E.
Slessmann: Standardization of sauer kraut, both in cans and in bulk.
— L. A. Round: Fermentation of sauer kraut. (Reported by /. S.
Hcphurn.)

N. Y. Acad. Sei., Sect. of Biol., Mar. 13. — G. G. Scott: Oxygen
utilization of fishes. — F. H. Pike: Significance of certain internal
factors in organic evolution.

IV. REFERENCES TO SOCIETY PROCEEDINGS

Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sei. : Columbus meeting, Dec. 27-Jan. i.
Sect. C. (Chem.): Science, 1916, xliii, p. 112. — Sect. M.
(Agric.) : Science, 1916, xliii, p. 356.

Amer. Physiol. Soc. : Twenty-eighth annual meeting. Bio-
CHEM. Bull., 1916, v, p. 33; Science, 1916, xliii, p. 254; (in füll)
Amer. Jour. Physiol., 1916, xl, p. 126 (Mar.).

Amer. Soc. Biol. Chem.: Tenth annual meeting. Biochem.
Bull., 1916, v, p. 37; (in füll) Jour. Biol. Chem., 1916, xxiv
(Mar.).

Amer. Soc. for Pharmacol. and Exp. Therap. : Seventh annual
meeting, Boston, Dec. 27-29. Biochem. Bull., 1916, v, p. 42;
Science, 1916, xliii, p. 252; (in füll) Jour. Pharmacol. and Exp.
Therap., 1916, viii, p. 109 (Feb.).

Fed. Amer. Soc. Exp. Biol.: Third annual meeting, Boston,
Dec. 27-29. Biochem. Bull., 1916, v, p. 28; Science, 1916, xliii,
p. 251.

Officers-Elcct of Various Societies 1 1 3

V. OFFICERS-ELECT OF VARIOUS SOCIETIES*

Amer. Assoc, Adv, Science. Pres., C. R. Van Hise. — Sect. C
(Chem.), vice-p., Julius Stieglitz. — Sect. F (Zool.), vice-p., G. H.
Parker. — Sect. G (Bot.), vice-p., T. J. Burrill. — Sect. H (Anthrop.
— Psychol.), vice-p., F. W. Hodge. — Sect. K (Physiol. — Exp.
Med.), E. 0. Jordan. — Sect. L (Educ), vice-p., L. P. Ayres. — Sect.
M. (Agric), vice-p., IV. H. Jordan; perm. sec, L. O. Howard; gen.
sec, JV. E. Henderson; sec. of Council, C. S. Gager.

Amer. Chem. See. Pres., C. H. Herty; directors (iQiö-'ig),
W. R. Whitney, W. D. Bigelow; council.-at-large, G. D. Rosen-
garten, W. D. Bigelow, B. C. Hesse, G. N. Lewis. — Div. Pharma-
CEUT. Chem. : Ch'r'n, /. H. Long; vice-ch., H. V. Arny; sec, G. D.
Beat; exec. commit., F. R. Eldrcd, C. JV. Johnson — Agric. and
Food Div. Ch'r'n, L. M. Tolman; sec'y, G. F. Mason; mem-
bers of exec. commit., H. A. Huston, A. V. H. Mory, E. R.
Smith. — N. Y. Sect. At the annual meeting for the election of
the ch'r'n of the N. Y. Sect., Mar. 10, Drs. K. G. Falk and /. M.
Matthews each received 78 votes. The tie was formally broken in
behalf of Dr. Matthews by the vote of the chair. — Va. Sect.
Vice-p., E. C. L. Miller.

Amer. Med. Assoc. The ranking vice-p.. Albert V ander Veer
succeeds pres. W. L. Rodman, deceased.

Amer. See. Animal Production. Pres., W. A. Cochel; vice-p.,
/, M. Evvard; sec.-treas., F. B. Morrison.

Amer. See. Naturalists. Treas., /. A. Harris.

Assoc. Offic. Agric. Chem. Hon. pres., H. JV. JViley; pres., F.
N. Brackett; vice-p., /. K. Haywood; sec.-treas., C. L. Aisberg;
addit. members of the ex. commit., JV. J. Jones, Jr., E. B. Holland.

Referees. Phosphoric acid, JV. J. Jones, Jr. — Nitrogen de-
termination, H. D. Haskins; Separation of nitrogenous substances,
L. L. Van Slyke. — Potash, E. E. Vanatta. — Soils, /. W. Arnes. —
Dairy products, Harry Klueter. — Feeds and feeding stiiffs, A. C.
Summers. — Food adulteration, Julius Hortvet. — Sugar, C. A.
Browne. — Insecticides, R. C. Roark. — Inorganic plant constituents,
A. J. Patten.— Medk'msd plants and drugs, IV. 0. £mery.— Water,
JV. JV. Skinner.—Watev in foods and feeding stuffs, JV. J. McGee.

* See p. 51 for recent items in this connection.

114 Associations and Societies

— Testing chemical reagents, C. O. Ewing. — Organic and inorganic
phosphorus in focwds, feeding stuffs and drugs, E. B. Forbes. —
Lime requirements of soils, B. L. HartwelL

AssociATE REFEREES. Phosphoric acid, C. S. Lykes. — Nitrogen
determination, R. B. Deemer; special study of Kjeldahl method,
/. K. Phelps; separations of nitrogenous substances; milk and
cheese, L. S. Palmer; meat products, P. F. Trowbridge. — Potash,
determination, T. D. Jarrell. — Soils, nitrogenous Compounds, C. B.
Lipman. — Dairy products, /. T. K eist er. — Feeds and feeding stuffs,
P. H. Smith; feed adulteration, Carleton Cutler; crude fiber, C. K.
Francis. — Food adulteration; colors, W. E. Mathewson; saccha-
rine products, F. L. Shannon; fruit products, P. B. Dunbar; wine,
B. G. Hartmann; beer, H. S. Paine; distilled liquors, A. B. Adams;
vinegar, E. H. Goodnow; flavoring extracts, A. E. Paul; spices,
H. E. Sindall; baking powder, H. E. Patten; meat and fish, E. D.
Clark; fats and oils, R. H. Kerr; dairy products, Julius Hortvet;
cereal products, /. A. LeClerc; vegetables, W. D. Bigelow; cocoa
and cocoa products, E. Bloomberg; tea and coffee, H. M. Loomis;
preservatives, A. F. Seeker; metals in foods, David Klein. — Sugar,
M. N. Straughn. — Insecticides, C. B. Winter. — Inorganic plant
constituents, R. W. Thatcher. — Medicinal plants and drugs; syn-
thetic products, W. O. Emery; medicated soft drinks, /. O. Schlot-
terbeck; medicinal plants, A. Viehoever; alkaloids, H. C. Füller;
balsams and gum resins, E. C. Merrill; pepsin and papain, V. K.
Chesnut. — Water, H. P. Corson. — Lime requirements, W. H. Mc-
Intire.

Com MITTEES, Cooperation with other Committees on Food
Adulteration, William Frear, Julius Hortvet, J. P. Street.

Board of Editors. Ch'r'n, C. L. Alsbcrg; L. L. Van Slyke,
E. F. Ladd, J. P. Street, R. E. Doolittle.

Editing methods of analysis. Ch'r'n, R. E. Doolittle, W. A.
Withers, J. P. Street, A. F. Seeker, G. W. Hoover, B. L. Hartwell.

N. Y. Assoc. Improv. Condition of Poor. — Bur. of Food
Supply : Graham Lusk, H. C. Sherman. — N. Y. School Lunch Com-
mit. : W. J. Gies. — Ventilation Commis. : C. E.-A. Winslozv, F. S.
Lee.

Biochemical Laboratory,

Columbia School of Medicine.

BIOCHEMICAL NEWS, NOTES AND COMMENT
Editorial sub-committee :

BENJAMIN HOROWITZ,

WILLIAM J. GIES, HATTIE L. HEFT, JOSEPH S. HEPBURN,
PAUL E. HOWE, EDGAR G. MILLER, JR., W. A. PERLZWEIG

Contents. (I). General: Necrology, 115; appointments, 115; honors, 116;
lectures and addresses, 116; grants, 117; prizes, 117; journalistic, 117; miscel-
laneous items, 118.

(II). War Notes: Necrology, 120; fat and ammunition, 120; university
items, 121.

(III). Col. Univ. Biochem. Assoc: (i) General notes — appointments, 121;
officers-elect, 121; lectures and addresses, 122; laboratory for determination of
mental deficiency, 122; (2) Proc. of the Assoc. — 25th meeting, 122; fifth annual
dinner (26th meeting), 123; (3) Columbia Biochem. Dep't — appointment, 126;
resignation, 126; lectures and addresses, 126.

I. GENERAL

Necrology. W. A. Borger, assis. direct., Pasteur Inst, and
vaccination service in Java. — Rodolphe Engel, prof. of ehem., Mont-
pellier Seh. of Med. — Georg Grübler, Dresden, distinguished for
physiol. and bacteriol. study of proteins, enzymes and stains. —
Edmond Heckel, prof. of materia med., Marseilles. — F. W. Hewitt,
eminent English anes'thetist.

Appointments.^ British Dyes, L'td. : Dr. W. H. Perkin (prof.
of ehem., Univ. of Oxford), head, research dep't; also chairman,
Advis. Council, vice Raphael Meldola, deceased.

Cornell Univ. : The title of Dr. E. M. Chamot has been changed
from prof. of sanitary ehem. and toxicol. to prof. of ehem. micros-
copy and sanitary ehem.

Lady Hardinge Med. Coli, and Hosp. (Delhi) : Miss A. M.
Bane, prof. of ehem.

Leland Stanford Jr. Med. Seh. : Prof. A. H. Hewlett (prof. of
med., Univ. Mich.), prof. of med.

Marine Biol. Lab., Woods Hole, Mass.; Summer session, 1916:
Dr. A. P. Mathezvs (Chicago), Dr. H. C. Bradley (Wisconsin),
Dr. Shiro Tashiro (Chicago), Dr. W. E. Garrey (Washington

1 In this summary, institutions from which appointments were made are
named in parenthesis. See also pages 121 and 126.

ii6 Biochemical News, Notes and Comment

Univ.), Dr. A. R. Moore (Bryn Mawr), and others; officers in the
dep't of physiol.

Univ. of Colo. : Dr. Robert C. Lewis (assis. biochem. U. S. Pel-
lagra Hosp., Spartanburg, S. C), prof. of physiol.

Univ. of Utah: Dr. /. A. Widtsoe (pres., Utah Agric. Coli.),
pres.

Washington Agric. Exp. Sta'n: Dr. /. 5. Caldwell (prof. of
bot., Ala. Polyt. Inst, and Agric. Exp. Sta'n), "by-products
specialist."

Honors. Among the New Year Honors conferred upon
British men of science was a " C.B." on Dr. A. W. MacFadden,
chief inspec. of food, Local Gov. Board.

A bust of von Behring has been erected in the Marburg Inst,
for Hygiene, in memory of the 25th anniv. of v. Behring's publica-
tion of his first work on serum therapy.

The fifth annual dinner of the Columbia Univ. Biochem. Assoc.
was given in honor of Prof. A. B. Macallum, Feb. lo (see p. 123).

Lectures and addresses. Endowed lect's. Physical Soc.
(London); Imperial Coli, of Science, Guthrie Lect., Jan. 28: Dr.
W. B. Hardy, Some problems of living matter.

Univ. and Bell. Hosp. Med. Coli., Herter Lect., Jan. 10-14:
Dr. V. C. Vaughan, Course of five lects. on poisonous proteins.

MiscELLANEous iTEMs. Amer. Chem. Soc, N. Y. Sect., Mar.
10: Dr. C. S. Hudson, Acetyl derivatives of the sugars; Dr. C. L.
Aisberg, Development of the U. S. Bureau of Chemistry.

Franklin Inst. ; Feb 9 : Dr. G. E. de Schweinitz, Drug and occu-
pational amblyopias; Feb. 10: Dr. Charles Baskerville, Refining of
animal and vegetable oils; Mar. 9: Prof. G. C. Whipple, The ele-
ment of chance in sanitation.

Harvard Univ. ; Five public lect's : Prof. L. /. Henderson, Tele-
ology and natural science.

Harvey (Society) Lect.; N. Y. Acad. Med., Jan. 15 : Dr. D. D.
Van Slyke, Present significance of the amino acids in physiology
and pathology; Feb. 26: Prof. IV. T. Longcopc, Susceptibility of
man to foreign proteins; Mar. 11: Prof. H. A. Christian, Some
phases of the nephritis problem; Mar. 25: Dr. R. T. Woodyatt,
Intermediate carbohydrate metabolism.

General 1 1 7

Pili Lamhda Upsilon Lect.; Columbia Univ., Feb. 17: Dr. A. C.
Grehore, Atoms, molecules, and crystal structure.

Princeton Univ., Chem. Club; Feb. 18: Dr. ha Remsen, Remi-
niscences of Liebig and Wöhler.

Washington Acad. Sciences; Jan. 13 : Dr. C. L. Aisberg, Chem-
ical analysis of animal nutrition.

Grants. Amer. Acad. Arts and Sciences, Warren Fund:
James F. Morris, $500; study of factors which influence the valency
of carbon.

Nat. Acad. Sciences, Bache Fund: E. J. Werber, $230; assist-
ance in experimental studies aiming at the control of defective and
monstrous development; (i) effect of toxic products of metabolism
on the developing teleost ^gg', (2) effect of experimentally produced
diseases of parental metabolism on the offspring in mammals.

Paris Acad. Sciences, Bonaparte Fund: Henry Devaux, 3,000
francs; continuation of his researches on the cultivation of plants
in arid or semi-desert regions. — Loutreuil Fund (francs) : — M.
Müntz, 2,400; direc. lab., vegetable ehem., Meudon. — Jules Amar,
6,000; improving his equipment for the study of the muscular
forces of man at work by the graphic and chronophotographic
methods.

Prizes. Paris Acad. Sciences, Jecker Prize : G. Bertrand, for
his work in organic and biol. chem. ; a special prize of 2,500 francs :
F. Maignon, for his researches on the toxicity of albuminoid
material.

Journalistic. Joiir. of Cancer Research. (Official organ,.
Amer. Assoc. for Cancer Research.) Ed. commit. ; /. C. Blood-
good, Leo Loeb, E. E. Tyzzer, Richard Weil (man. ed.), H. G,
Wells, W. H. Woglom.

Joiir. of Immunology. (Official public, Amer. Assoc. of Im-
munologists, and the N. Y. Soc. of Serol. and Hematol.) B'd of
Ed. : /. F. Anderson, John Auer, A. Breinl, J. J. Bronfenbrenner,
Carl Browning, A. F. Coca (ed. in chief), R. I. Cole, William
Eiser, L. W. Famulener, J. G. Fitzgerald, W. W. Ford, F. P. Gay,
J. W. Jobling, Preston Kyes, J. A. Kolmer, P. A. Lewis, W. H.
Manwaring, J. Mcintosh, C. J. Martin, Hideyo Noguchi, R. M.
Pearce, M. J. Rosenau, R. P. Strong, J. C. Torrey, Richard Weil,
H. G. Wells, Hans Zinsser.

1 18 Biochcmical News, Notes and Comment

Gcrnian and Aiistrian scientific men, to the ntimber of 246, have
appcaled to the public not to cease to subscribe to scientific period-
icals, as the latter are indispensable to scientific progress.

Miscellaneous items. Personalia. In a fire which destroyed
the Cornell Univ. ehem. lab., Prof. IV. D. Bauer oft's vvorking
library was rnined, together with the records and files of the Jour.
of Physieal Chem., of which Dr. Bancroft is editor.

Prof. H. V. Tartar, head Oregon Exper. Sta. Dep't. Chem., has
been granted a two-year leave of absence, to pnrsue research work
at some of the leading eastern universities.

Miss Gzuendolyn Stezvart, formerly instr. physiol. ehem., at
Santa Barbara Normal Seh. of Manual Arts and Home Econom.,
is spending the year in the physiol. dep't. of Stanford Univ.

PiiARMACOLOGiCAL. Sülvürsan " made in America." The
demiatol. lab's. of the Phila. Polyclinic are novv preparing arseno-
benzol (salvarsan).

Food-and-drugs act constitiitional. The U. S. Supreme Court
recently rendered a decision in the case of " Eckman's Alternative,"
a nostrum sold as a tuberculosis " eure," in which the constitution-
ahty of the amended food-and-drugs act was upheld.

A''. y. Dep't. of Health labeis patent medicines. The "Gold-
water Registry Law," requiring that all packages of patent med.
bear a proper declaration-label, or that the seller declare the nature
of the Contents to the B'd. of Health, went into effect on Jan. i,
19 16. Several days before that date, 300 inspectors, from three
bureaus of the Dep't. of Health, began to canvass 2,494 drug Stores
in Greater N. Y., and place labeis on 5,000,000 packages of patent
med. Druggists generally have facilitated enforcement of the law.

Present drug Situation. The great outstanding need of the
hour is the immediate foundation of an effective inst'n. for chemo-
therapeutic research. With the problems awaiting Solution and the
opportunities for developing information of unlimited importance
to the science of med., there is no way in which philanthropy could
do more for humanity than to make possible the establishment of
such an inst'n. l^hrlich is dead and the great research inst'n. of
which he was the head and moving spirit, by this misfortune and
other conditions, will be unable for a long time to go on serving

General 1 1 9

med. science as it has in the past. There never was a more auspici-
ous time for the development of a great inst'n. to take up the study
of ehem. in relation to the treatment of disease, and carry forward
this great work that contains such wonderful possibihties for the
relief of human suffering. It is to be hoped that some wealthy man
can be shown the enormous benefits to be derived from such an
inst'n., and how, by making its foundation possible, he can meet
the most urgent need in connection with scientific med. today, the
need for taking advantage of the unlimited resoiirces of ehem.
Editorial; Amer. Med., 1916, xxii, p. 13.

New courses. Lewis Inst., Chicago, has added physiol. ehem.,
food analysis, and advanced work in nutrition, to its regulär four
year eurriculum in domestie science.

Fellowship. The Woman's Med. Assoc. of N. Y. City offers the
Mary Pufnam Jacobi Fellowship of $800, available for post-gradu-
ate study to any woman physician for work in any of the med. Sci-
ences (including biol. ehem.). The fellowship will be awarded
upon proof of ability and promise of success in the chosen line of
work. Applications for 191 6-' 17 must be in the hands of the Com-
mit. on Award by Apr. i, 19 16, and should be addressed to Dr.
Annie S. Daniel, 26 Gramerey Park, N. Y. City.

Inst. f. Volksernährung. A Vienna manufacturer has given
$100,000 to fou^d an inst'n. to study the technieal side of nutrition
for the people, oy eorrelating the findings of organic ehem., biol.,
physiol., etc. It is to be ealled the Inst, für Volksernährung.

DyESTUEF SITUATION IN THE U. S. AT THE CLOSE OF I915.

Before the advent of this deplorable war we imported annually
about 2,500 short tons of anilin oil and anilin salts. In 1916 over
11,000 tons will be manufactured on Amer. soil, from Amer. coal-
tar " erudes." In 1913 our Amer. color-works produced 3,300 short
tons of eoal-tar colors, made chiefly from German " intermediates."
We imported 25,700 tons of artificial dyes, 22,000 tons Coming
from Germany. Today we are making over 15,000 tons of these
colors, all from Amer. coal tar. Are the nation's color-ehemists
too optimistie in eonfidently looking forward to the year 19 17 as a
date when the great bulk of artificial dyes consumed in this eountry
will be made in Amer. works, from Amer. raw material, by Amer.

120 Biochemical News, Notes and Comment

labor? (T. H. Norton: Jour. Industr. and Eng, Chem., 1916,
viii, p. 172.)

Ammonia from cyanimid. The large number of installa-
tions operating with perfect success in various parts of the world
for a number of years has demonstrated the commercial possibihty
of making ammonia from Hme-nitrogen. The plant in its present
highly developed State is extremely certain in its action and simple
to operate. The efficiency in the transformation of lime-nitrogen
into ammonia gas is upwards of 98 percent, or almost quantitative.
The consumption of reagents is remarkably small, and they are
cheap and easy to obtain in almost all parts of the world. The
quality of the ammonia produced by this process is not surpassed
by any in the U. S. It is chemically pure as produced and requires
no further costly and tedious purification to render it available for
the highest grade ehem. products, or for the production of liquefied
anhydrous product. The actual cost of production of this high-
grade pure ammonia on a considerable scale, which enables one to
take advantage of the lower prices at which lime-nitrogen is offered,
brings high-grade cyanimid-ammonia into the market almost as
cheaply as the more impure forms already found there, and very
much cheaper than it is possible to obtain an equal quality of am-
monia from gas-house liquor, the coke ovens, etc. (W. S. Landis:
Jour. Industr. and Eng. Chem., 191 6, viii, p. 160.)

II. WAR NOTES

Necrology. The Press Medicale gives an Illustration of the
large tablet to be erected under the arcade of the great staircase of
the med. dep't of the Univ. of Paris. In Oct. the design, already
in place, contained the names of six members of the faculty, victims
of the war (Galland, Legrand, Moog, Pelissier, Schrameck and
Reymond — the latter the aviator). There are also inscribed the
names of 47 students, and of 26 former graduates of the Institution.

Fat and ammunition. Sir W. Ramsay, in a letter to the Lon-
don Times, claims that in spite of the blockade, Germany is making
up for a shortage of fat by importing fats and oil-containing seeds
from neutral countries. Ramsay contends that from linseed oil
alone the British Gov. has furnished "the enemy" with no fewer
than 18,000 tons of gun ammunition.

War Notes 121

Univ. items. More than 600 stuclents and alumni of the Univ.
of Penn, are either fighting or doing med. work in the war zone.

The British Gov. has decided that all med. students, except those
in the last two years of professional study, shall relinquish their
work and become combatant members of the Army.

Prof. Hertwig, Berlin, who has just celebrated his 8ist birthday,
is now on active service with the troops at the front. This is his
fourth military campaign — he also served in 1864, 1866 and 1870.

There are now about 1,700 Toronto Univ. men in active service.
Of the univ. stafif, 73 are serving as officers and 8 are in the ranks.
Graduates numbering 746 are officers and 171 hold other ranks.
There are 284 undergraduates serving as officers and 381 in the
ranks.

III. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY BIOCHEMICAL ASSOCIATION

I. General Notes

Appointments.2 Marine Biol. Lab., Woods Hole, Mass.;
Summer session, 1916: Charles Packard, instr., embryol.

N. Y. Univ. and Bell. Hosp. Med. Coli. : Dr. M. G. Herzfeld,
assis. in pathology.

Officers-elect. Societies. Dr. G. D. Beal: sec'y, Div. of
Pharmaceut. Chem., Amer. Chem. Soc. ; vice-p., Phi Lambda
Upsilon.

Prof. R. H. Chittenden: member, Council, Amer. Philosoph.
Soc; Ch'm'n, Finance Commit., National Commit. for Mental
Hygiene.

Dr. IV. H. Eddy: a director, Nat'l Educators Conservation
Soc; also ch'r'n, Commit. on Wild Life Protection and Increase.

Dr. H. L. Fisher: pres., Phi Lambda Upsilon.

Dr. C. S. Gager: a director, Nat'l Educators Conservation Soc.

Prof. A. J. Gold färb: a director, Nat'l Educators Conservation
Soc.

Dr. /. /. Kligler: member, Amer. Soc Naturalists.

Dr. Jacques Loch: -trustee, Marine Biol. Lab., Woods Hole,
Mass. (to serve until 1919).

2 See also pages 115 and 126.

122 Biochcmical News, Notes and Comment

Prof. C. R. Stockard, sec'y, Amer. Assoc. Anat.

Journals. Dr. /. /. Bronfenhrenner: board of ed., Joiir. of
Immunology.

Mr. G. E. Cullen: ed.-in-chief, Register of Phi Lambda Upsilon.

Dr. W. H. Woglom: ed. commit., Joiir. Cancer Research.

Prof. Hans Zinsser: board of ed., Jour. of Immunology.

Lectures and addresses. Associated School Physicians. Pitts-
burgh, Mar. 4: Dr. Jacob Rosenbloom, Metabolism sttidies in a
case of Diabetes insipidus.

Chem. Teachers' Club, N. Y. City; Columbia Seh. of Med.,
Feb. 19 : Dr. B. G. Feinberg, The pure food law in Operation.

Univ. of 111., Feb. 10, 11, 12 : Prof. L. B. Mendel, Some features
of growth. — Agric. Coli. : Changes in the food supply and their
relation to nutrition.

Lab. for determination of mental deficiency. A lab. for the
purpose of examining prisoners to determine which are mentally
deficient, has been established at the N. Y. police headquarters. Dr.
L. E. Bisch, who conducted the preliminary exper. work, is the
director of the laboratory,

2. Proceedings of the Association
Edgar G. Miller, Jr., Secretary

Twenty-fifth meeting. The 25th meeting of the Assoc. was
held, Feb. 4, in the Biochem. Seminar Room at the Columbia
Med. Seh.

Prof's. A. B. Macallum (Toronto) and Leon Asher (Bern)
were elected honorary members. Prof's. R. F. Ruttan (McGill),
Teodoro Muhm (Chile), and E. Winterstein (Zürich) were elected
corresponding members. Miss Hattie L. Heft, Dr. F. G. Good-
ridge and Prof. Gies were elected life members.

It was voted to transfer all contributions on account of life
membership to the endowment fund of the Biochemical Bul-
letin.

The scientific proceedings of this meeting will be published in
the next issue of the Biochemical Bulletin. The next regulär
scientific meeting (27) of the Assoc. will be held Apr. 7.

Columbia University Biochemical Association 123

Fifth annual dinner (26th meeting). The fifth annual dinner
of the Biochem. Assoc. was given, Feb. 10, 1916, at 7.30 p. m., at
the Hotel Majestic. Preceding the dinner, at 6.30, an informal
reception was held in the rooms adjoining the banquet hall. Prof.
A. B. Macalltim (Toronto) was the guest of honor. The attend-
ance — 260 — was the largest in the history of the dinners given by
the Assoc.

The President of the Assoc, Dr. Nellis B. Foster, was the toast-
master. The Speakers who preceded Dr. Macallum on the in formal
program were Drs. L. H. Baekeland, M. T. Bogert, R. H. Chit-
tenden, Graham Lusk and S. J. Meltzer. Prof. Macallum de-
livered the formal address of the evening on Scientific triith and the
scientific spirit. This scholarly and impressive address is published
in füll at page 65.

The members of the Assoc. were highly honored by the presence
of Prof. Macallum and the many others of their friends and col-
leagues in New York and nearby cities. The hope that the annual
dinners of the Assoc. may help to advance the Status of biochem.
and foster inter-institutional amity in New York was encouraged
by the large attendance and by the gracious interest of all the guests
in the social success of the occasion. There was ample justification
for the delight of the members in the evident success of the dinner,
which it afTorded them great pleasure to give in personal and pro-
fessional honor of their distinguished friend and colleague from
the Univ. of Toronto.

The names of those in attendance and the table groupings, are
indicated below:

Speakers' Table

Guest of honor: A. B, Macallum
Toastmaster: Nellis B. Foster

L. H. Baekeland Ross G. Harrison F. H. McCrudden

Marston T. Bogert Holmes C. Jackson John Marshall

R. H. Chittenden Jacques Loeb S. J. Meltzer

Charles B. Davenport Graham Lusk

124

Biochemical News, Notes and Comment

H. V. Arny
John Auer
W. A. Bastedo
T. S. Githens
R. A. Hatcher
D. S. D. Jessup
A. I. Ringer

S. R. Benedict
W. B. Cannon
J. A. Fordyce
R. A. Harper
Yandell Henderson
P. A. Levene
R. T. Morris
F. P. Underhill

C. D. Carpenter
Mrs. P. E. Howe
I. S. Kleiner
Mrs. M. Manchester
A. R. Rose
Mrs. M. D. S. Rose
Sadie B. Vanderbilt
Jennie A. Walker

Thos. H. Cherry
Wm. B. Dunning
Mrs. Wm. B. Dunning
Mrs. Wm. J. Gies
Hattie L. Heft
Mrs. J. C. Pennie
H. H. Rusby
Mrs. H. H. Rusbv

Tables 2-28

Wm. N. Berg
Harlow Brooks
Rufus Cole
W. J. MacNeal
Wm. H. Park
Theobald Smith

A. B. Wadsworth

Warren Coleman
Haven Emerson
James Ewing
J. A. Hartwell
F. S. Meara
Walter Mendelson

B. T. Terry
F. C. Wood

H. L. Fisher
Helen Gavin
A. J. Goldfarb
Mrs. A. J. Goldfarb
F. W. Hartwell

C. A. Mathewson
Mrs. C. A. Mathewson
F. H. Pike

Mrs. F. H. Pike
Helene M. Pope

F. M. Wheat
Mrs. F. M. Wheat

C. A. Doremus
M. S. Eine
I. F. Harris
P. A. Kober
V. C. Myers

G. D. Palacios
H. D. Pease
E. E. Smith

Isaac Adler
J. McK. Cattell
J. H. Larkin
Isaac Levin
G. M. Meyer
J. R. Murhn
Peyton Rous
Richard Weil

J. P. Atkinson
M. A. Bigelow
T. B. Freas
C. S. Gager
Grace Langford
Grace MacLeod
Margaret E. Maltby
W. A. Murrill
Mary A. Nutting
G. B. Pegram
A. B. Stout
H. T. Vulte
J. F. Woodhull

Louise Berg
Robert Bersohn
Isabel Greenberg
J. S. Hepburn
Benjamin Horowitz
J. A. KilHan
J. F. McDonald
Sergius Morgulis
Arthur Mutscheller
W. A. Perlzweig
C. P. Sherwin

Columbia University Biochemical Association

125

C. F. Ash
H. S. Dunning
J. M. Levy
A. H. Merritt
J. H. Reed, Jr.
M. L. Rhein
H. S. Vaughan
L. M. Waugh

H. W. Banks, ßd
L. J. Curtman
Sarah S. Graves
Isidor Greenwald
Mathilda Koch
J. T. W. Marshall
Adelaide Spohn
Ethel Wickwire

W. H. Eddy
L. W. Fetzer
Samuel Gitlow
Karl Goldmark
W. A. Jacobs
N. W. Janney
O. M. Schloss
Matthew Steel
Sydney Steiner
R. G. Stillman
J. C. Torrey
William Weinberger

C. J. Wiggers

A. O. Gettler
Charles Irish
Charles Larkin
Mrs. R. M. Murphy

D. E. Roelkey
John Rumells
Sara Seilers

Miss A. Staudenmayer

William Carr
H. C. Ferris
N. S. Jenkins

C. C. Linton
W. S. Russell
A. L. Swift

D. M. Ward
H. L. Wheeler

Viola M. Bell
Grace Brinton
Margaret Hessler
Laura Lattin
Irma Latzer
Minerva Lawrence
Madeline Libert
Day Monroe
Frances Quilliard
Emily C. Seaman

George Bernheim
Mrs. G. Bernheim
K. G. Falk
Mrs. K. G. Falk
Casimir Funk
A. F. Hess
Myron Schaf er
Mrs. Myron Schafer
Kanematsu Sugiura

A. K. Balls
Ruby Dexter
Abraham Gross
Edythe Hershey
Genevieve Howell

E. F. Howell
J. H. Mueller
Margaret O'Leary
Lucy Purefoy
Alice Walton

A. C. Neish
Mrs. A. C. Neish
J. M. Nelson
Mrs. J. M. Nelson
A. H. Rahe
Mrs. Jessie M. Rahe
A. W. Thomas
Mrs. A. W. Thomas

C. H. Allen
G. E. Cullen
W. M. Kraus
J. H. Northrup
Carl Ten Broeck

D. D. Van Slyke
Hardolf Wasteneys
Harry Weiss

C. J. West

E. A. Wildman

Blanche Frazier
Tula L. Harkey
Frances R. Lee
Marguerite T. Lee
C. W. Rubsam
Mrs. C. W. Rubsam
Mrs. M. L. Schapiro
Frances Weidner

Bertha N. Baldwin
Lucy H. Gillette
Beatrix H. Gross
Paul Gross
V. E. Levine
Mary G. McCormick
Mathilda McKeown
Miriam E. Mirsky
G. J. Rosenthal

126

Biochemical News, Notes and Comment

L. H. Almy
Juanita Darrah
Pritchett Harrison
Priscilla Jones
Marian Lord
Ida Milien
Grover Tracy
Gertrude York

Bess Heflin
W. F. Hume
Richard Leonardo
Sterne Morse
Mrs. Sterne Morse
Joseph Muzante
Grace Sheets
Annie Smead

Lucy Cooper
Herbert Eastlack
Ethel Epstean
Harriet Jacobson
I. J. Kligler
S. D. Kramer
Helen McClure
A. V. Salomon

Helen C. Coombs
Katherine Fisher
Nita Jadwin
Ann Kuttner
E. G. Miller, Jr.
Mabel Ritti
E. L. Scott
Gertrude Warren

Esther A. Bullard
Leuna Cooper
Eleanor Diehl
Annie S. Dix
Wm. J. Gies
Paul E. Howe
Helen Hubbell
Elizabeth Jones

Dinner committee: Drs. Benjamin Horowitz (chair.), Edgar
G. Miller, Jr. (sec'y) and Paul E. Howe (treas.).

3. Columbia University Biochemical Department

Appointment. From the staff. Beth Israel Hospital (N. Y.
City) : Dr. W. A. Perlzweig, director of the ehem. laboratory.

Resignation. Mr. Grover Tracy recently resigned his assistant-
ship in biochem. at the Med. Seh. of the Univ. of 111. to resume
Ph.D. work in this dep't.

Lectures and addresses. Dr. Gies recently delivered the lec-
tures and addresses indicated below : Chem. Teachers' Club of N.
Y. City, Columbia Med. Seh., Feb. 19; Digestion, absorption and
assimilation of proteins. — Iota (Columbia) Chapt., Nu Sigma Nu
Med. Erat., Feb. 25 : Progress in dental science. — Fifth Ann.
Conf. on Independent Journalism in Dentistry, Hotel Vendome,
Boston, Feb. 26: Professional freedom, self-respect and efficiency
are incompatible with subserviency to trade journalism. — New
Brunswick (N. J.) Scientific Soc, Rutgers Coli., Feb. 28: Diges-
tion and utilization of food. — King's Co. (N. Y.) Dental Society,
Masonic Temple, Brooklyn, Mar. 9 : Prevention of dental caries.

EDITORIALS

WILLIAM J. GIES

The January issue of the Biochemical Bulletin presented,
at page 59, the first announcement of the Kronecker Biochemical
Kronecker Prize for the " encouragement of biochemical
Biochemical Prize research and the improvement of biochemical
literature." In that announcement it was stated that " it will be
impossible suitably to award the Kronecker Biochemical Prize
before its existence is widely known "; also that " plans for the
execution of the donor's purpose will be developed at an early date
and announced in the next few issues of the Biochemical
Bulletin."

In Order that the first award of the Kronecker Biochemical
Prize m.ay be made under appropriate circumstances, it has been
decided that the contents of the second half of the present volume
(V — July to December, 1916, inclusive) and of the whole of the
succeeding volume (VI — 1917) shall constitute the series of papers
f rom which the most meritorious contribution will be selected for the
initial bestowal of the prize; but that, beginning with volume VII
(1918), the prize shall be awarded annually to the author of the
most meritorious contribution in each successive volume of the
Biochemical Bulletin, in accord with the conditions of the gift.

The method by which all subscribers for the Biochemical Bul-
letin may participate in the selection of the contributions to which
the successive prizes shall be awarded will be published, in the near
future, in the editorial section of this Journal. The details of this
method will also be more formally announced, by letter, to each and
all directly concerned in the execution of the plan.

Beginning with this issue, items of biochemical interest pertain-

ing to various scientific societies will be regularly assembled in a

„ , separate section, under the general heading:

Two ncw i63.tur6s
in our editorial " Associatiotts and societies." It is believed that

pohcy ^}^jg pj^j^ q£ coördinated presentation will greatly

facilitate reference to the main facts of biochemical interest in the
proceedings of the scientific societies to be included in the plan. A

127

128 Editoriais

systematic effort will be made to obtain promptly all the important
facts of biochemical interest in the public affairs of the leading sci-
entific societies; and it is our hope that all the secretaries to whom
our requests for Information may be forwarded, will coöperate with
US in the execution of this purpose.

Beginning with this issue we shall reserve the space on the in-
side of the back cover of each number of the Biochemical Bul-
letin for the publication there of personal and professional items
relative to biochemical " positions wanted" " positions vacant," and
" new positions." Items of this character will be received from any
and all who may be interested, and will be published free of charge.
The founders of the Biochemical Bulletin intended to make this
Journal an active factor in the advancement of the knowledge and
practice of biochemistry. The Biochemical Bulletin aims not
only to promote the science and art of biological chemistry, but also
to "give aid and comfort" to those who devote themselves to bio-
chemistry as a profession. In pursuance of these purposes the Bio-
chemical Bulletin would cheerfully help to bring to realization
the hopes of all who seek professional opportunities in biochemistry
or who desire the Services of biological chemists.

The Biochemical Buljj:tin promptly acknowledges here the receipt of pub-
lications presented to it. Reviews are matter-of-fact Statements of the natura
, and Contents of the publications referred to, and are

intended solcly to guide possible purchasers. The wishes
or expectations of publishers or donors of volumes will be disregarded, if they
are incompatible with our convictions regarding the interests of our colleagues.
The sizes of the printed pages are indicated, in inches, in the appended notices.

Harvey's views on the use of the circulation of the blood. By John G.
Curtis {Posthutnous publication). Based on a lecture delivered, in 1907, before
the Johns Hopkins Hospital Historical Club, at Baltimore. Edited by Prof. F.
S. Lee, " with affection for Dr. Curtis's memory and with appreciation of bis
scholarly attainments." Pp. 194; 6x3^. Columbia Univ. Press, 1915. "Dr.
Curtis's work represents a more profound study of Harvey's ideas and compari-
son of them with those of the most important of Harvey's predecessors than has
heretofore appeared."

Nutritional physiology: 2d ed. By Percy G. Stiles, instr. in physiol., Har-
vard Univ. Pp. 287— 6 x3^^; $1.25 net. W. B. Saunders Co., Phila., 1915.
First ed. issued in 1912. Our references to the first ed., as an " admirable treat-
ment of nutrition " and a " very valuable addition to the growing supply of text
books in biol. ehem. for beginners," apply with even greater pertinence to this
edition. The hygienic aspects of nutrition are given special consideration.

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIOCHEMISTS

The founders of the Biochemical Bulletin intended to make it an active
factor in the advancement of the knowledge and practice of biochemistry. The
Biochemical Bulletin aims not only to promote the science and art of biological
chemistry, but also to give " aid and comfort " to those who devote themselves
to biochemistry as a profession.

Hereafter, in pursuance of these purposes, this page will be reserved for
the publication of personal and professional items relative to biochemical " posi-
tions wanted," " positions vacant," and " new positions." Items of this character
will be received from any and all who may be interested, and will be published
free of charge.

Address Communications in this connectioji to William J. Gies, 437 West
SQth St., New York City, by whom all details will be regarded confidentially,
whether that attitude is f ormally requested or not ; and by whom correspondents
will be put directly in touch with each other.

New positions

1. Pathological chemist wanted by
two physicians. Salary $150 per month.
State qualifications.

2. Bacteriologlcal chemist wanted to
coöperate in dental and oral research.
Salary to accord with training and
ability. State qualifications.

3. Director of research on natura
and effects of " food poisons " in a
university laboratory desires coUabo-
ration of bacteriologists, biochemists
and pharmacologists (pair of each).
Füll time appointments ; no teaching
duties. Research to continue for at
least three years. State qualifications
and salary desired.

13. "Oil chemist" wanted in indus-
trial laboratory. Good salary for man
thoroly trained, with wide experience.

Positions vacant

4. Two assistantships in biochemical
department of large western university
will be vacant at end of present aca-
demic year. New appointees will re-
ceive $500 each, free tuition, and
" half-time " for Ph.D. work.

Positions wanted

5. Biochemist, Ph.D., with special
experience and interest in research on
enzymes, desires a permanent position
in this kind of work.

6. Biochemist with special experience

in research on lipins desires teaching
Position that would enable him to com-
plete Ph.D. training.

7. Biochemist, Ph.D., long training
and experience in agricult. ehem., de-
sires Position of greater opportunity
for research in same field. Salary de-
sired, $2500.

8. Biochemist, Ph.D., with thorough
training and extended experience in
nutrition, desires more advanced op-
portunity in research in nutrition or
an allied field. Prefers position with-
out teaching duties. Salary desired,
$2500.

9. Instructor in bacteriology, Ph.D.,
now teaching (a) general bacteriol-
ogy, (b) water, milk and food bac-
teriology, and (c) bacteriological
chemistry, seeks more advanced Posi-
tion, combining opportunity in re-
search with teaching.

10. Bacteriologist, Ph.D., with chem-
ical training and extended experience
in bacteriology, desires position in re-
search involving activity in bacterio-
chemistry. Salary desired, $2500.

11. Biochemist, M.S., now a candi-
date for Ph.D. in western univ., who
has specialized in food and bacteriolog-
ical ehem., and is teaching ehem., de-
sires a teaching or research position in
any of these fields.

12. Seven biochemists, who expect to
receive the Ph.D. degree in June, de-
sire "good positions."

CONTENTS

PAGE

Scientific truth and the scientific spirit. A. B. Macallum. 65

The " retrograde circulation of calcium " in the human

BODY. G. Delgado Palacios 78

A simple, EFFICENT, and economic FILTER.

5*. L. Jodidi and E. H. Kellogg 87

StUDIES ON THE RELATION OF CEMENT DUST TO CITRUS VEGETA-
TION. I. The EFFECT ON PHOTosYNTHESis. H. D. Young. 95
AssociATiONs AND sociETiES. Paul E. Howe and collaborators. . loi

1. Soc. Public Analysts, ETC. E. Richards Bolton,Secy. loi

2. BiocHEMicAL Society, England.

R. H. A. Flimmer, Secy. 109

3. MiSCELLANEOUS ITEMS OF BIOCHEMICAL INTEREST HO

BiOCHEMICAL NEWS, NOTES AND COMMENT

Benjamin Horowits and collaborators. 115

Editorials AND BOOK REVIEWS. William J. Gies 126

Kronecker Biochemical Prize {inside of front cover)
Professional opportunities for biochemists

(inside of back cover)

Vol. V

April-May, 1916

No. 20-21

Biochemical Bulletin

, Edited, for the Columbia University Biochemical Association, by

Herman M. Adler,
John S. Adriance,
L. H, Almy,

C. H. AUen,
David Alperin,
Carl L. Aisberg,

D. B. Armstrong,
George Baehr,

J. C, Baker,
Louise C. Ball,
Charles W. Ballard,
Arnold K. Balls,
Louis Baumann,
George D. Beal,
Cora J. Beckwith,
S. R. Benedict,
William N. Berg,
Josephine T. Berry,
Robert Bersohn,
Isabel Bevier,
Louis E. Bisch,
A. Richard Bliss,
Ernst Boas,
Helene M. Boas,
Joseph C. Bock,
Charles F. Bolduan,
Samuel Bookman,
Sidney Born,
O. C. Bowes,
William B. Boyd,
Jean Broadhurst,
J. Bronfenbrenner,
H. E. Buchbinder,
Leo Buerger,
Gertr. Burlingham,
J. G. M. Bullowa,
R, Burton-Opit«,
A. M. Buswell,
R, P. Calvert,
A. T. Cameron,
C. D. Carpenter,
Herbert S. Carter,
Russell L. Cecil,
Arthur P. Chace,
Hardee Chambliss,
Ella H. Clark,
Ernest D. Clark,
Alfred E. Cohn,
Kath. R. Coleman,
Robert A. Cooke,
Helen C. Coombs,
Blanche E. Cooper,
Calvin B. Coulter,
Burrill B, Crohn,
Glenn E. Cullen,
Louis J. Curtman,
William D, Cutter,
C, A, Darling,
William Darrach,
Andrew I. Dawson,

William J. Gies,

Norman E. Ditman,
Ula M. Dow,
Eugene P. DuBois,
James G. Dwyer,
Fred'k Eberson,
Walter H. Eddy,
D. J. Edwards,
Gustave EgloS,
A. D. Emmett,
Allan C. Eustis,
Benj. G. Feinberg,
Ada M. Field,
Ruth S. Finch,
Harry L. Fisher,
Mabel P. FitzGerald,
Nellis B. Poster,
Fred D. Fromme,
C. Stuart Gager,
Mary C. de Garmo,
Helen Gavin,
Mary E. Gearing,
George A. Geiger,
Samuel Gitlow,

A. J. Goldfarb,
H. D. Goodale,
H. B. Goodrich,
F. G. Goodridge,
Ross A. Gortner,
Mark J. Gottlieb,
Isidor Greenwald,
James C. Greenway,
Louise H. Gregory,
Beatrix Gross,
Abraham Gross,

B. C. Gruenberg,
Marston L. Hamlin,
Frederic M. Kanes,
R. F. Hare,

Tula L. Harkey,
T. Stuart Hart,
Fred W. Hartwell,
E. Nevrton Harvey,
P. B, Hawk,
Harold M. Hays,
M, Heidelberger,
Joseph S. Hepbum,
M. G. Herzfeld,
Alfred F. Hess,
L. J. Hirshleifer,
Mildred A. Hoge,
Karl J. Holliday,
Wm. T. Home,
Byron B. Horton,
Homer D. House,
Frank T. Hughes,
Louis Hussakof,
Roscoe R. Hyde,
Henry H. Janeway,
Max Kahn,
John L. Kantor,

James P, Kelly,
Edw. C. Kendall,
J. E. Kirkwood,
Israel J. Kligler,
Arthur Knudson,
Mathilde Koch,
Sydney D. Kramer,
Walter M. Kraus,
Alfred H. Kropff,
Chas. Krumwiede, Jr.,

A. V. S. Lambert,
Marguerite T. Lee,
Victor E, Levine,
Charles C. Lieb,
Sidney Liebovitz,
Mabel C. Little,

B. E. Livingston,
Leon Loewe,
Alfred P. Lothrop,
Daniel R. Lucas,
Wm. H. McCastline,
Helen McClure,
Mary G. McCormick,
Louise McDanell,
Jas. P. McKelvy,
Alice H. McKinney,
Grace MacLeod,

C. A. Mathewson,
H. A. Mattill,
Clarence E. May,
Gustave M. Meyer,
Sergius Morgulis,
Max Morse,
Agnes F. Morgan,
H. O. Mosenthal,

J. Howard Mueller,
Hermann J. Muller,
Arthur Mutscheller,
Leila Noiand,
Archibald E. Olpp,

B. S. Oppenheimer,
R. C. Osburn,
Reuben Ottenberg,
Charles Packard,

A. M. Pappenheimer,
Edwards A. Park,
Olive G. Patterson,
Almeda Perry,
W. H. Peterson,
Louis Pine,
Helene M. Pope,
E. R. Posner,
P. W. Punnett,
Jessie Moore Rahe,
A. N. Richards,
Anna E. Richardson,

C. H. Richardson,
Grace C. Robinson,
Winifred J. Robinson,
David E. Roelkey,

Anton R. Rose,
Jacob Rosenbloom,
G. J. Rosenthal,
Una G. Ruth,
William Salant,
W, S. Schley,
Oscar M. Schloss,
H. von W. Schulte,
W. H. Schultz,
Fred W. Schwartz,
C. A. Schwarze,
Ernest L. Scott,
Emily C. Seaman,
Fred J. Seaver,
A. D. Selby,
A. Franklin Shull,
J. Buren Sidbury,
C. Hendee Smith,
Clayton S. Smith,
Edward A. Spitzka,
Morris Stark,
Matthew Steel,
Ralph G. Stillman,
Chas. R. Stockard,
Edward C. Stono,
Mary E. Sweeny,
Arthur W. Thomas,
M. K. Thornton,
Grover Tracy,
F. T. Van Beuren,
J. D. Van Buskirk,
Eliz. G. Van Home,
Philip Van Ingen,
Chas. H. Vosburgh,
Delancy M. Ward,
Hardolph Wasteneys,
Edwin D. Watkins,
William Weinberger,
F. S. Weingarten,
J. W. Weinstein,
Charles Weisman,
William H. Welker,
C. A. Wells,
Harry Wessler,
Frank M. Wheat,
Isabel Wheeler,
H, L. White,
Geo. H. Whiteford,
David D. Whitney,
Ethel Wickwire,
Herbert B. Wilcox,
Guy W, Wilson,
Louis E. Wise,
William H. Woglom,
I. O. Woodruff,
L. L. Woodruff,
H. E. Woodward,
Anna B. Yates,
R. M. Yergason,
Hans Zinsser,

I

and the executive cditorial sub-committee :
Edgar G. Miller, Jr., chairman,
Benjamin Horowitz, Paul E. Howe,

William A. Perlzweig

LANCASTER AND NEW YORK

Entered as second-clais matter in the Post Office at Lancaster, Pa.

KRONECKER BIOCHEMICAL PRIZE

A prize of öne hundred and fifty dollars ($150), to be known as
the Kronecker Biochemical Prize, and intended "to encourage
biochemical research and improve biochemical literature," will be
awarded to the most meritorious paper, in each successive volume of
the Biochemical Bulletin, iinder the following conditions :

1. The prize shall be designated, in all references thereto in the
Biochemical Bulletin, as the Kronecker Biochemical Prize.

2. No one more than 40 years of age shall be eligible to receive
the prize, but neither nationality, race, creed, sex, nor any other
State or personal condition shall render an author ineligible to re-
ceive the prize.

3. The prize-winning paper, article, or other contribution, may
be of multiple authorship and of any biochemical character what-
ever, provided the paper or any part of it is not published elsewhere
before the award is formally announced; but the prize may not be
awarded to a paper that is more than 15 printed pages in extent,
exclusive of diagrams, plates, tables, and other illustrative matter.

4. The awards of the prize shall be made annually by vote of
the subscribers for the Biochemical Bulletin.

5. The Managing Editor of the Biochemical Bulletin, with
the advice of the members of the Executive Committee of the Co-
lumbia University Biochemical Association, shall have authority to
announce that none of the papers in a given volume is sufficiently
meritorious to Warrant the award of the prize for that volume; but
in any such event the prize for the succeeding volume, or volumes,
shall be increased by the amount, or amounts, not previously
awarded.

6. The Contents of the second half of the present volume (V —
July to December, 1916, inclusive) and of the whole of the succeed-
ing volume (VI — 1917) shall constitute the series of papers from
which the most meritorious contribution will be selected for the
initial bestowal of the Kronecker Biochemical Prize. Beginning
with Volume VII (1918), this prize will be awarded annually.

7. The Managing Editor of the Biochemical Bulletin will
announce and execute all plans desirable or necessary for the attain-
ment of the donor's purpose in this matter, in accord with the con-
ditions above expressed.

See pages 59 (Jan.) and 127 (Feb.-Mar.) of this volume of the
Biochemical Bulletin.

BiocHEMiCAL Bulletin

Volume V APRIL-MAY, 1916 No. 20-21

MEDICAL BROTHERHOOD
FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF INTERNATIONAL

MORALITY

Fraternitas medicorum

F. M.

A REPORT AND A DISCUSSION BY THE PRESIDENT,

S. J. Meltzer

In the issue of the Biochemical Bulletin for June-September,
191 5 (p. 292),^ an "Appeal to the Men and Women Engaged in
Medical Practice and the Advancement of Medical Sciences " was
pubhshed, asking them to join the Organization of the Medical
Brotherhood for the Furtherance of International Morality. It was
signed by about one hundred and fifty members of high Standing
in the profession of this country, many of whom enjoy an inter-
national reputation. Soon after its publication, we began sending
out the Appeal and an enrollment card to members of the medical
profession. We wish now to give an accoimt of the results thus far
attained, and to discuss the nature of this venture and its merits.

Report. To this date (April 15) about fourteen thousand
American physicians have enrolled as members of the Medical
Brotherhood, the greatest part of whom are either members of med-
ical societies of good standingorof societies which cultivate medical
Sciences. The Appeal was also sent to some leading members of the
profession of other neutral countries. Here again we obtained very
encouraging results. We received, and continue to receive, requests

^ See page 249.

129

130 Medical Brotherhood

from members of the medical profession of these countries to be
enrolled as members of the Brotherhood of our country. Among our
correspondents are such well-known men as Theodor Kocher, Ein-
thoven, Thahna, Rovsing, Thunberg, Von Monakow, Zwaarde-
maker, de Quervain, Jacquet, Marsden and others of similar standing.
The Appeal was published in some of the medical and scientific
Journals of these countries, and we have the encouraging informa-
tion that organizations similar to ours were started there. Quite
recently the Nederlandsche Vereenigung voor Heelkunde (Holland)
requested to be enrolled as a member of the Medical Brotherhood of
this country. We did not approach members of the profession in
any of the helligerent countries; nevertheless, we received requests
to be enrolled from medical men in Finland (Russia) who probably
read the Appeal in Swedish medical Journals.

The fourteen thousand members of the medical profession of this
country who have enrolled as members of the Brotherhood represent
about 15 per cent. of the number of physicians to whom the Appeal
was sent. We have, therefore, good reasons to consider henceforth
the Fraternitas Medicorum as an established Organization.

Analysis of objections. While it is idle to speculate as to
the real attitude of those who did not respond to the Appeal, certain
instructive facts, capable of shedding some light upon this question,
may be learned, nevertheless, from an analysis of part of the corre-
spondence we have had. We shall not include in the discussion the
numerous letters in which the writers unreservedly and enthusiasti-
cally approved our movement. But we have to mention that among
the enrolled members are some who originally looked upon the enter-
prise with misgivings. We shall mention further the instructive f act
that a number of physicians asked for enrollment cards months after
the Appeal was sent to them, stating frankly that they threw away
the Appeal without even having read it, because they were bothered
with too many war and peace circulars.

However, we received about twenty-seven letters, the contents
of which were unmistakably adverse to our movement. Nine of
these Communications were anonymous; they contained offensive
remarks, assuming that the Medical Brotherhood was a part of an

5". /. Meltzer 131

organized German propaganda and that the expenses were met by
the German Kaiser.

Among those who signed the adverse letters are several from
men who are of high standing in the profession, and are personally
known to us. Several of our correspondents, some of whom were,
during the present war, f or short periods in France, stated that there
is not a neutral fiber in them.

Two correspondents objected to the idea that physicians have
a higher claim to international morality than other people. Sev-
eral of our correspondents said that they either could not see the
object of the movement or, as one expressed it, he could not see
where "the uplift comes in"; or, on the contrary, that the aim
of the Brotherhood is too Utopian f or them. Finally, several writers
approved the idea in general, but thought that the Organization of a
Medical Brotherhood should be postponed until after the war,

The objections to the Organization of the Medical Brotherhood,
so far as could be ascertained from this small number of adverse
manifestations, may be summarized as follows : (i) That it is a part
of a German propaganda, or, at least (2) a veiled pro-German move-
ment; that (3) it is meant to be a neutral body which, there fore,
ought not to be supported because the paramount duties of American
physicians ought to be to help the Allies; that (4) physicians have
no higher claim than other people to international morality; that
(5) there is no object (no uplift) in this Organization; that (6),.
on the contrary, the object Is too Utopian, and finally, (7) that the
movement is premature.

Financial resources. Small as the number of our critics is,
their adverse points of view merit public discussion. In so doing we
shall deal in the first place with the most objectionable Interpretation
given to the aims of the Medical Brotherhood, namely, that it is part
of a pro-Teutonic propaganda and that it is financially supported by
the German government. In the Appeal, as well as in a letter pub-
lished in the Journal of the 'American Medical Association (1916,
Ixv, p. 971), it was expressly stated that the Brotherhood is neither
a pro-Teutonic nor a pro-Allies movement. Such assurances prob-
ably do not reach the type of men who are capable of writing anony-
mous letters. But we owe it to the medical profession at large to

132 Medical Brotherhood

make the following Statement regarding the financial resources of
the Medical Brotherhood, which is as f ollows : Private contributions,
to the amount of $660, were made, in smaller and larger sums, by
some of the enrolled members. The main financial support comes,
however, from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
The Executive Committee of this body granted us a hberal fund for
the purpose of developing our Organization. The Executive Com-
mittee is made up of such men as President Butler, President Prit-
chett, ex-Senator Elihu Root, and others of similar high standing,
It is quite safe to say that no individual with normal judgment could
think for a moment that these foremost American Citizens v^ould
consent to support a pro-Teutonic Organization. But ought such
a question to have been raised at all by any fair-minded member of
the profession in the face of the standing of the members of the
committee which signed the Appeal? Would, for intance, the Sur-
geon-Generals of the Army, of the Navy, and of the Public-Health
Service consent to be honorary presidents, if the Medical Brother-
hood had some ulterior, pro-Teutonic or other un-American,
tendencies ?

General discussion. As to the other criticisms, they can be
best met, we believe, by discussing the fundamental considerations
tinderlying this movement. The term "brotherhood," it is true, re-
nalis to mind a State in v\^hich all men shall treat one another like
brothers — like good brothers. This is an ideal which probably
will never be attained. The specter of the unattainable drives
practical men away from such Ideals. But it should be remembered
that even the ideal is of great educational value, if utilized merely
to indicate the dircction which our practical activities ought to
take. However, the Medical Brotherhood addresses the Appeal
only to the medical fraternit}^ and does not intend to deal with
unattainable objects. The medical profession has a training which
is scientific in character and method, and which has, in modern
times, among its precepts the following maxims: (i) That the
development of a new view must be started on the basis of an assured
fact, and not from mere desire or by the Impulse of an untamed
phantasy; (2) that one need not be afraid to assume, or to work
for, something which has not received the approval of that great

vS. /. Meltzer 133

authority, the practically wise man; (3) that one should not work
for the demonstration of the correctness of the new assumption, or
for the reaHzation of the new aim, in the manner of the practical
man, that is, by violent activities and in the expectation of attaining
completely the desired end in a month or a year (perhaps to lose it
again in a shorter time), but, on the contrary, must work patiently,
trying to attain the end, or even only small parts of it, by Steps
which may appear to be very small but which offer the greatest
Chance for permanency; (4) that one should not be discouraged by
some failures; and finally, (5) that one should care more for prog-
ress in the right direction, than for attainment of the goal.

Now, the development of our Organization was started on the
basis of the f ollowing indisputable f acts : The ethical relations be-
tween separate nations are far behind the State of morals govern-
ing the relations of individuals of the same nation. International
morality progresses at best in waves, positive and negative, mak-
ing perhaps three Steps forward and two and sometimes four or
five Steps backward. However, during the normal State of the
world's affairs, ethical men of all countries are ready to be guided
by the two great moral principles : patriotism and humanity. The
present world-wide catastrophe has demonstrated, however, that
even the most idealistic Citizen is incapable, and, in fact, is not in a
Position to serve both ethical principles at the same time, while his
country, right or wrong, is at war with another country. Physicians,
however, are in an exceptional position ; they are permitted and even
required to observe both ethical demands even during war. In war
the physician's Services to his country are as necessary, as great, as
that of the warrior, but he is in the fortunate position to be able to
treat his compatriot and his country's foe alike. That Standard of
morality is upheld not only by the medical profession itself, but is
practically demanded by the regulations agreed upon by the various
international Conventions, regulations which have been rarely broken
even in the present most brutal war. Even in the present State of
frightful confusion of judgment, practically no sane individual exists
who would not consider this Standard of morality desirable to obtain
in all domains of human endeavor — if it were attainable. These are
safe facts. Now the Medical Brotherhood was organized primarily

134 Medical Brotherhood

to bring these instructive facts to the consciousness of the members
of the medical profession, to teil them of their ethically privileged
Status. This message is not sent to non-medical men; neither do we
mean to say to the non-medical man that we physicians are hoher
than thou. We wish only to convey to physicians the message that
their profession permits them to remain at all times simultaneously
patriotic and humane, and that they should train their character
properly so that they could be fit to exercise this high privilege. The
nearest and simplest end to be gained from such Information is the
consciousness of a sense of higher duties which comes from the
knowledge of one's higher moral dignity.

There is no doubt that the medical profession is a noble calling.
Do medical men represent a noble class ? They ought to. There are
two good reasons f or such an expectation. " A medical man whose
ethical Standard is not above that of the average man is morally
below him." His activities are of a most serious nature; they con-
cern life; and, furthermore, they can not, as in other callings, be
controlled by anybody or anything eise but the physician's own con-
science; that conscience therefore must be of a higher type. Then,
the physician has constantly to deal with suffering, that of the patient
and of those to whom the patient is dear; sympathy, therefore, ought
to be an integral part of the make-up of the desirable physician, It
is true that the medical calling is at the same time the physician's
business by which he makes his livelihood; it is therefore often af-
flicted with many of the moral shortcomings which frequently go
with money-making occupations. The Medical Brotherhood, how-
ever, does not deal, and does not have to deal, with this side of the
physician's life. It deals with the physician in his relation to his
country, when he acts and has to act as a patriot; or when other
countries are at war with one another, when the physician of a
neutral country has to act as a humanitarian. Here every physician
can afiford to exercise his noble profession in a noble spirit. It is that
for which the Medical Brotherhood appeals to all physicians of our
country. That alone seems to us to be an object worth while
looking for.

The fact that within only about nine months and without agita-
tion and publicity, about fourteen thousand members of the med-

S. /. M elfter 135

ical profession o£ the United States alone should have joined the
Medical Brotherhood shows that we Struck the right chord. This
group of medical men and women, the vast majority of whom surely
have more or less idealism, represent about 10 per cent. of the medi-
cal profession of this country. Moreover, there can be no doubt that
the Appeal issued by the committee exerted a morally favorable in-
fluence upon many members of the profession who did not join the
Medical Brotherhood; and there is great probability that a good
many will join it when the war approaches its end.

In this connection we may call attention to the most encouraging
fact that the medical Journals of our country act in a most exemplary
manner with relation to the war. None of the Journals, at least none
known to us, has indulged in offensive discussions of the various
belligerent nations or made disparaging comments on the behavior
of the medical members of these nations. The subject of the present
war has been handled by the medical Journals with rare good sense
and tact. In a general way, the same may be claimed for the utter-
ances of the members of the medical profession when made in lay
gatherings or publications, although here the unavoidable small frac-
tion of exceptions has not been lacking. The Medical Brotherhood
has had occasion to remonstrate in tvvo instances, in one with com-
plete and in the other with partial success.

From the point of view of the scientific investigator, who is not
afraid of Utopian ideals which may give him the direction for his
work, but who works for his goal by small and practicable steps, we
may claim for the movement of the Medical Brotherhood that it has
a definite object, "an uplift," that it is not Utopian in its direction,
that it was undertaken at the right time — when the medical mind was
in a State of fermentation, in statu nascendi — and, best of all, that
the movement has already attained a gratifying success : it has
aroused the moral, humane, spirit in a great many members of the
profession in this country as well as in other neutral countries.

We have no quarrel with those of our colleagues who do not
wish to join the Brotherhood, because, as they say, they can not
remain neutral in this war. No matter with which party one sides,
and what his wishes may be, we do not question the moral nature
of his motives. But we wish to make the following two remarks :

136 Medical Brotherhood

First, the Medical Brotherhood does not aim for mere neutrality.
A neutral occupies, with reference to war, the same moral level as the
belligerents, with the mere difference, that he is not in it, or not
yet in it. The Medical Brotherhood wishes to occupy a position
above this level. War represents a very backward phase in the
development o£ human ethics. The various belligerent nations are
simply producta of the same moral phase, the same developmental
period. The medical profession is fortunate to be able to occupy an
advanced ethical position. Its members should be aware of it, and
should adhere to it.

Second, the Medical Brotherhood is concerned only with the
medical part of its members. As private individuals the members are
at liberty to sympathize chiefly or exclusively with one side or the
other of the warring parties. What we expect of members of the
Medical Brotherhood is that they should commit no public act which
is not in harmony with the advanced moral standing of the medical
profession, One who does not feel that he can bind himself to this
simple Obligation, or one who does not believe, or does not zvant to
assume, that the medical profession occupies an advanced moral Posi-
tion, should, of course, not join the Medical Brotherhood. This.
Organization must consist of medical men and women who believe in
the advanced ethical position of the medical profession and are
willing to live up to this belief. It is as certain as day that only good
and no härm can come from such a belief.

We shall not risk the presentation of a list of the problems which
we may be called upon to try to solve now or later ; " each bridge
will be crossed when we get to it." One thing we may state defi-
nitely : we do not intend to meddle with problems which deal with the
termination of the present war. The exertion of our energies will
be limited to that which is attainable by us. On the other band,
we contemplate dealing definitely with this one problem. After the
termination of the war, or even at the mere sight of this termina-
tion, an attempt should be made to unite the medical men of all the
neutral countries for the purpose of arranging an early international
meeting of the medical profession, to which meeting some members
of the profession in the belligerent countries, who are, or may then
be, in harmony with our ideals, may be invited. We shall thus

vS'. /. Meltzer i37

perhaps be in a position to accelerate an early rapprochement and
fraternal reconciliation of the members of the medical profession of
all the civilized nations. Here again we shall attempt to do our
duty as we see it without being too sanguine as to an early and com-
plete success.

HiPPOCRATic GATH. A few of our sympathizing correspondents
wished to know whether the aims of the Medical Brotherhood are
not already covered by the Hippocratic oath. No ; that oath Covers
only the relations of the physician to the individual as his private
patient or pupil. As we all know, the influence of this oath leaves
plenty of room for the ethical activities of the American Medical As-
sociation, the newly created College of Surgeons, etc. The Medical
Brotherhood does not intend to deal with any part of this phase of
medical affairs ; it has in view exclusively the relations of the physi-
cian to his country as a patriot and to other countries as a humani-
tarian.

Patriotism and medical preparedness. We have stated that
medical men are in a position to be patriots and humanitarians at the
same time. We have so far dealt exclusively with the international
side of the Brotherhood. In fact, in the Appeal it was expressly
stated " For the Furtherance of International Morality." However,
it would not be out of place to add a few remarks regarding patriot-
ism and the relations of the physician to it. The present war, while
presenting a frightful picture of the Woody struggle between the
nations, has revealed, on the other band, a most remarkable ethical
side of the relations of the individual to the State in each and every
one of the belligerent countries. The readiness of the individual to
be helpful to, and sacrifice himself for, the State Stands out as a
shining light in the midst of the extreme darkness of the war. But
here we wish to speak especially of the relations of our physicians
to our country. Preparedness is a subject which at present agitates
profoundly the minds of all of our Citizens. It is none of our con-
cern here to discuss this subject from the general point of view as
Citizens. As physicians, however, there can not be the slightest doubt
that it is the duty of every member of the profession, who is in a
Position to do so, to offer his assistance to the medical department of
the military Organization of our country. We do not know when

138 Medical Brotherhood

the country will be called upon to defend itself. It may come sud-
denly, like a holt from the skies, which are surely not clear at the
present time. Physicians who are not devoid of a sense of duty
should, therefore, prepare themselves with the necessary knowledge
and skill, and should in large numbers inform the military medical
department of their willingness to serve in case of need. The
hygienist, bacteriologist, internist, etc., can be of just as much Serv-
ice as the surgeon in the incidents of war. The medical man who
marches with the scouts ahead of the army tD select camps, to test
the drinking water, etc., is as important as those who work behind
the lines. And the medical man whose daily work brings him in con-
tact with infectious and contagious diseases is trained in courage as
high as the veteran of many battles ; bacteria are as deadly as bullets ;
and in his daily work the physician, like the man on the firing line,
never knows when they may strike him.

On the other hand, the practitioner knows now quite well what
importance is to be attached to sympathetic psychical treatment of
patients who are in need of it. A training to preserve humaneness
in the midst of passion and hatred ought to be a part of medical
preparedness. After furious battles the poor injured prisoner of
war needs often this mode of treatment as much as the surgical one.

The Medical Brotherhood of this country wishes to gather into
its Union those members of the medical profession who have a vein
of idealism in them and who are willing to serve their country as
patriots and humanitarians. It appeals further to the inspired ones
to spread this gospel, wherever they find the proper opportunity, with
impressiveness combined with patience and tolerance.

Rockefeiler Institute for Medical Research,
New York City.

THE EXTRACTION OF SAP FROM PLANT TISSUES

BY PRESSURE

ROSS AIKEN GORTNER, JOHN V. LAWRENCE and J. ARTHUR

HARRIS

{Station for Experimental Evolution, Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y.)

(WITH PLATE l)

(Received for publication, June 8, 1915).

In a paper of great importance to those engaged in the study
of the properties of vegetable saps, Dixon and Atkins^ have shown
that a sample of sap obtained by pressing untreated tissues cannot
be regarded as typical of that contained in the tissue-mass, but that
fractions extracted successively differ essentially in their electrical
conductivity and depression of the f reezing point. Dixon and Atkins
have, furthermore, provided a method of obtaining typical samples
of sap by rendering tissues permeable by freezing in liquid air, and
have extended the application of this method to the extraction of
zymase from yeast.^

In the course of our work on the properties of vegetable saps we
have had occasion to repeat these studies of Dixon and Atkins on an
extensive scale.

Dixon and Atkins contented themselves with methods vvhich
were qualitative rather than quantitative so far as the squeezings
are concerned. Such methods were, of course, quite sufficient for
their purposes.

Our primary purpose has been to determine something con-
cerning the nature, amount, and regulär ity, of the change in the

1 Dixon and Atkins : Osmotic pressures in plants. i. Methods of extracting
sap from plant organs. Sei. Proc. Roy. Dublin Soc. (n. s.), 13: 422-433, 1913.
Also, Notes from Bot. Seh. Trinity Coli. Dublin, 2: 154-172, 1913.

2 Dixon and Atkins : The extraction of zymase by means of liquid air. Sei.
Proe. Roy. Dublin Soe. (n. s.), 14: 1-8, I9I4- Also, Notes from Bot. Seh. Trin-
ity Coli. Dublin, 2: 177-184, 1914.

139

140 Extraction of Sap from Plant Tissues

concentration of the sap extracted from a mass of tissue linder con-
tinuous pressure.

At first WC hoped to secure apparatus suitable for determining,
in the case of various tissues, the amount of pressure required for
the extraction of given volumes of sap and the concentration of the
sap thus secured. This proved unfeasible, at least in prehminary
studies ; and we limited ourselves to a consideration of the concen-
tration of successive samples of equal volumes obtained under ap-
proximately continuous pressure.

In extracting the sap, the tissue was carefully packed, in masses
of about 200 grams, in a heavily tinned hemispherical bowl and
forced down by means of a plunger of similar nature, which fitted
closely into the bowl when empty. Numerous small perforations in
the bowl permitted the escape of the extracted sap without disturb-
ing the press. The plunger was forced down by a screw which was
very slightly turned every few minutes to maintain a constant drop-
ping of Juice. Shallow smooth corrugations on the inner surface of
the bowl and on that of the plunger prevented any grinding action
between the plunger, sample, and bowl, before the applied pressure
became sufficient to hold the mass rigid. The press was capable of
exerting pressures of from 80 to 100 atmospheres, continually, until
all the available sap was extracted.

As a basis for comparison, the sap was extracted also from a
comparable mass of froren tissue.^ This will be designated as the
" original f rozen sample." After the process of sap-extraction had
been carried as far as possible by direct pressing, the residue gen-
erally contained sufficient water for an ample extraction of sap after
being frozen. This residual part of the tissue will be referred to as
the " frozen residue."

The concentrations (osmotic pressures) of all the saps were
measured in terms of the depression of the freezing point, as esti-
mated by the well known Beckmann method.

The results of a rather large series of experiments can be stated
very tersely, and with illustrative cases instead of with a füll series
of observational data.

3 For methods see Gortner and Harris: Plant World, 17: 49-53, 1914.

R. A. G ortner, J. V. Lawrence and J. A. Harris 141

In no instance did a first sample of sap, pressed from unfrozen
tissue, give a depression of the freezing point as great as that from
the " original f rozen sample." Generally, all the f ractions extracted
by pressing alone show less depression of the freezing point than
does the juice extracted from the " original f rozen tissue." In some
cases, however, the later samples of a series are as concentrated as,
or more concentrated than, the sap of the " original frozen sample."
Diagram i (Plate i) gives an Illustration of this case.

Dixon and Atkins, in referring to the results of their own work
and to the evidence obtained incidentally by others, mention only
higher concentrations of the later samples. In general it is true that
successive samples become more concentrated. The regularity of
this increase in concentration is admirably shown by Diagram i or 2
( Plate I ) . Such is, however, not always the case. In some instances
the fluid extracted by continuous pressing, without rearrangement
of the tissue-mass, may become less and less concentrated. This is
seen, for example, in the series of extractions from cabbage leaves
shown in Diagram 3 (Plate i). In other instances all of the f rac-
tions may be of about the same concentration, as is shown in Dia-
gram 4 (Plate i).

The juice obtained from the " frozen residue " always, so far
as our experience goes, shows a greater osmotic pressure than that
for any of the samples extracted by direct pressing or for the juice
from the " original frozen sample." Both of these conditions are to
be expected from the fact that the individual fractions of sap ob-
tained by pressure of the tissue-mass are almost invariably less con-
centrated than that from the " original frozen sample," and on the
average are always so. We are not convinced, however, that the high
values for the depression of the freezing point of the sap from the
"frozen residue" may not be due, in part, to chemical changes
occurring during the process of pressing.

Thus, the resuks secured fully substantiate the conclusions of
Dixon and Atkins, that samples of sap pressed from unfrozen tis-
sues cannot be taken as typical of the original concentration of the
Juices in the tissues. While the entire credit for this advance in the
study of vegetable saps must, with the exceptions noted in their

142 Extraction of Sap from Plant Tissues

review of the literature in the papers cited above, be glven to DIxon
and Atkins, it will be noted that our results somewhat extend theirs ;
in some minor regards, only, our results are not in füll accord with
theirs.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE i

In all the Diagrams in Plate i the heights of the bars indicate the amounts o£
the lowering of the freezing-point, as shown on the scale to the left (i unit
= 0.1°). The cross-hatched bar to the left shows the concentration of the sap
from the " original f rozen sample." The lined column to the right shows that
of the " frozen residue." The concentrations of the successive fractions extracted
by pressure are shown (in order, left to right) by the unshaded bars.

Diagram i. Sap from leaves from flowering plant of Syringa vulgaris.

Diagram 2. Sap from leaves of a greenhouse culture of seedlings of several
dwarf varieties of Pisum sativum.

Diagram 3. Sap from inner leaves of Cabbage; determinations made in
January.

Diagram 4. Sap from leaves, probably not quite mature, of Symplocarpus
fcvtidus.

BiocHEMiCAL Bulletin (Vol. V)

Plate I

m

m

m

m

:•:■;•:

Diagram i.

Diagram 2.

Diagram j.

GORTNER, LAWRENCE AND HARRIS: EXTRACTION OF SAP FROM PLANT

TISSUES BY PRESSURE.

OXYGEN RELATIONS IN AUTOLYSIS

MAX MORSE
(Biochemical Laboratory, University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Omaha)

(Received for publication, November 9, 1915).

The assumption has long been held^ tliat autolysis is more or less
intimately associated with oxidation. This association is suggested,
in the first place, by the fact shown by Jacoby,^ that liver lobes whose
blood supply is interrupted, undergo autolysis. I have determined,
in similar manner, that muscle, isolated f rom its nerve center, auto-
lyzes^ in situ. In the second place, the appearance of products of
incomplete combustion, such as lactic acid,^ suggests that oxygen
may play a röle in autolysis. Indeed, that oxygen supplied in Op-
timum amounts may be the factor which inhibits the action of
autolyzing enzyme in the normal condition of the tissue, is not an
improbable hypothesis. It is the hypothesis which the present set
of experiments was designed to meet, pro or con.

In the beginning it may be stated that, so far as these experi-
ments in vitro were capable of throwing light, any relation of
oxygen to autolysis could not be demonstrated. It is quite possible
that such experiments in vitro do not represent the processes going
on in a normally functioning tissue; but, until methods are available
for more definitely following the metabolism of tissue in vivo,
such attempts to study the role of the several factors involved in the
present investigation must be our reliance.

The method of preparation of the digests was the same as that

1 Hoppe-Seyler : Tübingen med.-chem. Untersuchungen, 1871, iv, p. 499.

2 Jacoby : Ueber die f ermentative Eiweissspaltung und Ammoniakbildung in
der Leber; Zeitschr. f. physiol. Chem., 1900, xxx, p. 170.

3 Morse: Autolysis and Involution; Amer. Jour. of Physiol, 1915, xxxvi,
p. 147.

^Magnus-Levy: Ueber die Säurebildung bei der Autolyse der Leber; Beitr.
z. chem. Physiol. u. Path., 1902, ii, p. 261.

143

144 Oxygen Relations in Autolysis

previously iised.^'^ The oxygen-compounds enumerated below
were introduced into the digests as they rested in a Hearson in-
cubator. Oxygen was introduced into duplicate jars of the digest
as they stood in the incubator, the tube from a commercial cylinder,
with reducer, leading through the thermometer-aperture in the top
of the incubator, the thermometer having been removed. It was
not found possible to estimate the amount of oxygen passed into
the digests from the cylinder, but the bubbles were released at about
a rate of two per second. The digests were shaken daily, sometimes
several times a day.

It is conceivable that the application of oxygen immediately
after its release from a pressure of 150 atmospheres and directed
into the digest might have acted so that inhibition resulted, either
from oxidation and consequent modification of the Substrate, or by
similar effects upon the enzyme. J. J. Thomson (Phil. Mag. 1903)
has shown the condensation power of oxygen ions in cases of sudden
release of pressure, but the ionization is low. No such inhibition is
exhibited by the results in the present case.

It is conceivable, too, that the Compounds and gas used here did
not afford oxygen in a form available for use in the tissue. If the
liver contains catalase, which seems to be the case,''^ peroxides,
especially HoOo, would be rendered available; and, if the modern
theory of oxidation is correct, such oxygen would be as normal a
constituent as we could desire. Oxygen is principally molecular^
under the conditions of these experiments. The case may be dif-
ferent for the peroxides used, since it is certain from the work of
Loew,^ Lepinois^*^ and others that catalysis differs in different tis-
sues and organisms, as judged by the guaiacum reaction.

^ Bradley and Morse: Jour. Biol. Chem., 1915, xxi, p. 209.

6 Morse : The röle of halogens as accelerators of tissue-enzyme action ;
Ibid., 1915, xxii, p. 125.

"^ Dzierzgowiski : Arch. des. Sc. biol. St. Petersburg, 1909, xiv, p. 147.

ß Ionization of O. = 10-12 = 1/22 mol. per liter, water being i.i X lO"'''.

9 Loew : Catalase, a new enzyme of general occurrence ; Report No. 68, U. S.
Dept. Agric., Washington, 1901.

1*^ Lepinois : Sur les f erments solubles decomposant l'eau oxygenee ; Compt.
rend. soc. biol., 1899, li, p. 401.

Max Morse

HS

The f ollowing substances were used :

1. Oxygen gas, as described above.

2. Hydrogen peroxide, used in lo percent sol. in the digest, i. e.

approximately 25 cc. to 250 cc. of brei. The Hquid was
used from a small, hitherto unopened bottle, purchased
locally.

3. Sodium peroxide, 5 percent sol.

4. Benzoyl peroxide synthesized in the laboratory from benzoyl

chlorid and hydrogen peroxide by the Schotten-Baumann
procedure^^'^^ of benzoylating ; 5 percent sol.

5. Potassium permanganate, i percent sol. with the digest.

The results for autolysis are given below,^^ as cc. of w/5 am-
monium hydroxid sol.

Condition

Beginning

24 hrs.

10 days

Control

Benzoyl peroxide

10.9
10.9
10.9
10.9
10.9
II.4
II.4

II.6
II.O

II. 8
II. 8
12.3
12.8

12. 1
12.4

Sodium peroxide

II. 8

Hydrogen peroxide

12.0

Potassium permanganate

12.0

Control for oxygen gas

14.0

Experiment with oxygen gas

15-6

11 Schotten : Ber. d. d. ehem. Ges., 1890, xvii, p. 2545.

12 Baumann : Ibid., 1886, xix, p. 3218.

13 Average of duplicate results.

ELECTRIC APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC
CONTROL OF THE FLOW OF GAS^

SERGIUS MORGULIS

(U. S. Bureau of Fisheries and the Biochemical Lahoratory of Columbia Univer-
sity, at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Neiv York)

(WiTH PLATE 2)

(Received for publication, May i, 1916)

There are many occasions in laboratory procedures when the
automatic regulation of a gas current is highly desirable. This is
particularly true of metabolism experiments where, for instance,
oxygen must be supplied as rapidly as it is being used up by the
organism. To insure a continuous and sufficient supply of oxygen
in experiments of long duration, the attention of a special assistant
is not infrequently required.

Being engaged, at present, in the construction of a respiration
apparatus for the study of the gaseous metabolism of aquatic ani-
mals, attempts have been made to introduce, wherever possible,
automatic regulators as time saving, as well as trouble saving, de-
vices. In this note I wish to describe briefly an electrically con-
trolled apparatus by means of which the admission of oxygen from
a cylinder is effected automatically ; and, while this has been de-
signed for a special purpose, it is believed that the apparatus may
be easily adapted to other laboratory uses.

The apparatus consists of three essential parts : a " pinch-cock,"
electromagnets and contact-makers (Plate 2). These will be de-
scribed separately.^

A side viev/ and top view of the first two parts are shown in

1 Published by permission of the Commissioner of Fisheries.

2 The apparatus has been made from the writer's sketches, but it is a pleasure
to acknowledge that the refinement in the mechanical construction of the appa-
ratus is due to the excellent workmanship of Air. J. Becker, the mechanic in the
Pharmacological Laboratory, who made it for me.

146

Serghis Morgidis

147

Figs. I and 2. The "pinch-cock" consists of a movable frame
^i fj 9> ^h supported by two uprights, c and d, and two brass bars,
a and b. The ft^rmer is permanently fixed to the parallel rods, g and
h, by means of pins. The latter, b, can be shifted freely over the
rods, g and hj and is attached to j, which can be moved either way
in a horizontal plane by means of the set screws k and /. A rubber
tube, held in position by two supports, n and Oj as can be seen in
Fig. 2, passes between the bars a and bj the inner faces of which

FlG.l SIDE VIE.W

!;i|iiiiiii

l:]l,

rf-

m^

I k

-« — e-

h

IBUl;!!.!

P I G.2 TOP VI EW

are rounded off so as not to injure the rubber tube. The lumen of
the tube may be left entirely open, or it may be entirely closed, by
varying the distance between the bars, a and b, with the set screws.
In this way a permanent flow of gas at any desired rate can be
secured. A further increase in the rate of delivery, or a complete
shutting off of the current, is effected by shifting the frame,
^, f, 9, h^ to the right or left. These movements are controlled by
oppositely-placed powerful electromagnets. When the opening be-
tween the horizontal bars, a and b, has been once adjusted, it re-
mains unchanged because on the one hand the set screws hold bar
b securely fixed, while bar a, which is attached to the frame, is
maintained in a fixed position by the catch in. By lifting that catch.

148 Automatic Control of the Flow of Gas

the entire frame shifts to the left, owing to the elasticity of the
Springs that extend between a and d] and a decompression of the
lumen of the tube is thus effected. By puUing the frame from the
opposite side, a and h are brought temporarily close together, com-
pressing the lumen of the tube. This compression lasts only so long,
however, as the pull is exerted upon the frame at / ; f or, as soon as
the pull is released, the frame strikes back to its former position by
the action of the Springs, until it is checked by the catch m.

It is clear, from this description, that a current of gas under a
pressure of, say, 2 to 4 Ib. may be made to flow at a minimum rate,
regulating this with the set screws; and, if necessary, the flow may
be temporarily increased to its maximum capacity or temporarily
cut off. It is also clear, of course, that if the set screws are adjusted
so as to close off the lumen of the tube only two possibilities will be
open; namely, the maximum delivery of gas, alternating with com-
plete cessation of the flow. According to the special requirements
of the case, either the three-phase or the two-phase regulation may
be employed.

The electromagnets which control the movements of the frame,
•^y f> 9> ^} are mounted, together with the " pinch-cock," on a brass
plate, as may be seen from Fig. i and 2. The construction of these
electromagnets is somewhat peculiar and is calculated to obtain a
maximum efficiency. The magnet consists of an L-shaped iron base,
p, to which a Y^ inch plate, r, also of iron, is pivoted so that it de-
scribes an are in moving from the vertical to the horizontal position.
A stout iron axis tapering at one end is firmly fixed to the vertical
part of the base, and on this axis is set a spool bearing numerous
windings of fine wire. The free tapering end of the axis fits into
a pit of similar shape drilled into the movable iron plate. When an
electric current is sent through the spool, the plate is very powerfully
attracted to the axis and, owing to the fact that the pointed end
protrudes into the plate, a strong pull is exerted from the start. The
position of the movable plates from the frame, e, f, g, h, the ampli-
tude of the pull, as well as the return to the original position when
the electric current is discontinued, are secured by means of screws
and Springs, as is shown in Fig. i and 2. Fach of the iron plates,
r, bears upon its free surface a yoke-like structure, s, by means of

Serghis MorguUs 149

which it is interlocked with the f rame, e, f, g, h. When the plate, ^2,
is attracted, the yoke, So, moving upwards opens the catch, m, held
down firmly by a spring. This causes the frame to shift to the left,
as already explained, allowing an increased delivery of gas. This
side movement of the frame brings bar / close to the cross piece of
the yoke, ^^ of the opposite electromagnet. When this magnet is
activated and attracted to the iron axis, it pulls strongly on the
frame, shifting it back to the right and the catch, m, again clutches
the bar, e^ preventing the frame from striking back.

We have yet to consider the contact-makers, which, according to
circumstances, bring into play either one or the other electromagnet.
In the respiration apparatus I utilize, for this purpose, the Spirometer,
which is a Hght aluminum bell floating in a water- jacket formed by
two concentric metal pipes. The bell, being exactly counterpoised,
responds very quickly to changes in the volume of the air, dropping
when the volume is diminished by the using up of oxygen, for
instance, and rising when the volume increases. A small metal rod
is soldered to the edge of the top of the bell, as will be seen from
Plate 2, which passes through a narrow slit in the frame upon which
the Spirometer bell (6) is suspended. Two hard rubber blocks are
attached to the frame: one (3) very near the base is fixed perma-
nently, while the other (4) can be moved the entire length of the
frame by means of a continuous screw (5) . In this way any distance
may be set between these two blocks. On the top of each block
there are two little holes filled with mercury which is in contact with
binding posts for the electric wires on either side of the block. The
contact is effected by a small metal fork (8) with platinum teeth,
Avhich moves on a fulcrum set in the middle of the block. One end
of the fork is made sufficiently heavy so that the part bearing the
platinum points is always raised. When the Spirometer bell, moving
downwards, reaches a very low level, it presses with its hook-like
projection upon the fork and causes its platinum points to dip into
the mercury cups, thus closing the contact and sending the current
through the left electromagnet. This releases the catch, m, and the
tube is decompressed. The oxygen flows, now, at a maximum rate
and the Spirometer bell fills up rapidly, rising to the level at which
the moveable contact-block has been set. As soon as it reaches this

ISO 'Automatic Control of the Flozv of Gas

point, the projection lifts the fork until the platinum points dip into
the mercury, when a new contact is made and the current is sent
through the opposite electromagnet. This now pulls the frame and
shuts off the gas-flow. As soon as this contact is broken, the mini-
mum oxygen delivery (which has been originally adjusted) is once
more estabhshed. It will be observed that very little electric power
is wasted in this process, as the current passes only at the time of the
contact, which, in either case, is immediately broken.

In Plate 2 the entire apparatus is shown with the electrical con-
nections. I use the street current directly and, by the use of a tele-
phone condenser of 2 micro-farads (i) across the binding posts of
each magnet and one ordinary lamp (2) in series, the contacts are
made without any sparking. As the circuits are used alternately,
the two magnets are supplied from the same socket (7).

While the apparatus here described has a definite purpose, it is
evident that it may be employed with advantage for other functions.
It would be an easy matter, for instance, to utilize the expansion of
mercury for making the contacts and thus regulating the flow of
lighting gas foi* the heating of incubators or drying ovens.

BiocHEMicAL Bulletin (Vol. V)

Plate 2

MORGULIS: ELECTRIC APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC CON-

TROL OF THE FLOW OF GAS

SANITARY STUDIES OF BAKING POWDERS

I. Is aluminium absorbable from bread, and similar food prod-
ucts, made with alum baking powder?

WILLIAM J. GIES

(Biochemical Laboratory of Columbia University, at the College of Physicians

and Surgeons, New York)

(Received for publication, April i, 1916)

Five years ago I published a paper, entitled " Some objections to
the use of alum baking powder,"^ from which the introductory para-
graph is quoted below:

" During a period of about seven years I have occasionally con-
ducted experiments on the effects of aluminium salts. These studies
have convinced me that the use, in food, of alum or any other alumin-
ium Compound is a dangerous practice. That the aluminium ion is
very toxic is well known. That ' aluminized ' food yields soluble
aluminium Compounds to gastric juice (and stomach contents) has been
demonstrated. That such soluble aluminium is in part absorbed and
carried to all parts of the body by the blood can no longer be doubted.
That the organism can ' tolerate ' such treatment without sufif ering
harmful consequences has not been shown. It is believed that the facts
in this paper will give emphasis to my conviction that aluminium should
be excluded from food."

Among the experiments above referred to, as having been con-
ducted ''during a period of about seven years," were those with
House,2 on seedlings, and with Steel,^ and with Kahn,** on dogs.

1 Gies: Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc, 191 1, Ivii, p. 816.

2House and Gies: Amer. Jour. Physiol.,i9o6,xv; Proc. Amer. Physiol. Soc,
1905, p. xix. (See a recent paper, on this subject, by Miyake : Jotir. Biol. Chem.,
1916, XXV, p. 23.)

3 Steel: Amer. Jour. Physiol., 1911, xxviii, p. 94-

*Kahn: Biochemical Bulletin, 191 i, i, p. 235.

151

152 Sanitary Studies of Baking Powders

The gist of our conclusions, from the results of these experi-
ments, is indicated by the f ollowing four quotations :

I. " Compounds of aluminium, such as the chlorid, even when
present in very minute proportions, are streng protoplasmic poisons and
very toxic to growing plants " (House).

II. " When alum was administered in aluminium-f ree food to dogs,
or when dogs ingested biscuits baked with alum baking powder, alu-
minium in comparatively large amounts promptly passed into the blood.
. . . When aluminium chlorid was administered intravenously, from
5.55 percent to 11. 11 percent of the aluminium passed from the blood
into the feces during the three days immediately after the injection"
(Steel).

III. " When biscuits baked with alum baking powder are fed in a
mixed diet to dogs, aluminium passes in considerable amounts into the
blood. Such absorbed aluminium circulates freely and, although it
does not show a tendency to increase proportionately in the blood, it
accumulates to some extent in various parts of the body. The bile
contains a particularly large amount of aluminium. . . . Under the con-
ditions of these (feeding) experiments, aluminium is absorbed in part
and is excreted, to some extent, in both the bile and urine" (Kahn).

IV. "Two objections might be raised against this conclusion re-
garding the absorption of aluminium from the gastro-intestinal tract
into the blood. It might be assumed that our analytic method was
inaccurate. Such an assumption is always in order in the considera-
tion of any method, for none is perfect. Our preliminary work with
the analytic method employed and the checks against error that were
instituted, give us complete confidence, however, in the practical ac-
curacy of the process. If slight and unavoidable errors occurred, we
believe that, from the general nature of the method, they must have
caused loss of aluminium and consequent diminution of the numerical
result, rather than the reverse.^

" It might also be urged that our figures representing the amounts
of aluminium which passed into the blood are too small to mean any-
thing. It might be thought that the proportions are too minute for the
causation of deleterious effects. It might even be suggested that such
small proportions of aluminium are beneficial because of the possible
' stimulating ' action which traces of poisons f requently induce. But

^ For fiirther facts in this connection see Gies : Biochemical Bulletin,
1916, V, p. 189.

William J. Gies 153

none of these assumptions could be shown to accord with the whole
truth in the matter. The amount of ahiminium in the blood at any
moment, after the ingestion of aluminized food, is but a fraction of the
quantity that may occur in the blood of the individual during a given
hour or a given day — larger quantities circulate throughout the body
meanwhile, under such conditions. Excretion seems to occur continu-
ously in cases of this kind. If the aluminium which is thus carried
into the blood were of any value to the organism, it is improbable that
the absorption of a minute proportion of aluminium would be promptly
followed by the elimination of much of it. The prompt excretion of
aluminium under such circumstances implies a decided physiologic
repugnance.

" We found, further, that absorbed aluminium circulated freely, but,
as it did not show any pronounced tendency to accumulate in the blood,
it is obvious that its füll effects must have been registered outside of the
circulation. The organism * tolerates ' a great amount of injury, but
it has not been shown that the development of tolerance f or aluminium
is either a common achievement or a desirable attainment.

" It should not be forgotten that the influence of a given substance
must be considered, in its practical aspects, from the Standpoints of
actual conditions attending its introduction into an organism. What
are its effects on individuals, for example, who are temporarily ill or
perrnanently diseased? Again, what effects are registered in a per-
fectly healthy individual, who takes a small quantity of the substance
under consideration with similarly small quantities of equally toxic or
even more noxious materials ? What, for instance, may be said of the
effect of aluminium from bread made with an alum baking powder,
when the bread is eaten with butter colored by a * coal-tar ' dye ; with
jam sweetened by Saccharin ; with soup made from ' stock ' preserved
by sodium salicylate or salicylic acid; with peas greened by copper
Sulfate; with vegetables kept from spoiling by sodium benzoate or
benzoic acid, in one case, by borax or boric acid in another; to say
nothing of other deleterious substances, such as formaldehyd, sulfurous
acid, sodium sulfite, ' ether flavors,' and the like, in various portions
of an ordinary meal as it may happen to be served. Even if it may be
reasonably urged that the effects of any one of these ' foreign ' sub-
stances ' in the quantities eaten ' are negligible, who can say that their
collective action after such a meal is of no physiologic consequence?
We f requently hear it said with assurance that ' people go on eating
all these things without ever knowing it, and yet where is the case of

154 Sanitary Studies of Baking Powders

damage done by any of these products ? ' But may it not be asked in
turn : Are not many cases of illness probably due to the eff ects of such
substances in food, quite unknown to those who ascribe the sickness in
any instance to a different cause? It is easy to understand that rela-
tively very shght absorption of aluminium, day after day, may ulti-
mately (as in chronic auto-intoxications) develop biochemical inco-
ordinations leading to perverted function, def ective structure, decreased
resistance to disease, or other undesirable modifications of one or more
qualities or parts of the body. How many people have been obviously
injured by Saccharin, for example? Perhaps milHons have eaten it
without noting any hurtful result. Nevertheless, Saccharin has re-
cently been officially declared a dangerous sweetening agent because it
does exert injurious influences, and its use as a sweetener will soon be
prohibited by law. Yet, if this decision had depended on authentic
reports of cases of sickness arising from the ordinary use of Saccharin
as a sweetening substance, its prohibition would probably never have
been announced. So it is with aluminium. Alum baking power may
be injuring thousands without afifording any obvious sign of damage.
While doubt remains, its use should be avoided " {Gies).

The applicability, to people, of the foregoing inferences from the
results of our experiments was rendered doubtful, two years ago,
by a brief preliminary report, on this general subject, by the Referee
Board of Consulting Scientific Experts of the U. S. Dep't of Agri-
culture.^ In that report the Referee Board stated that aluminium
was not found in the hlood of four men who served as subjects in
the Board's experiments.''' The Referee Board concluded, also, that
"alum baking powders are no more harmful than any (!) other

6 Bulletin 103 : U. S. Dep't of Agric, Apr. 29, 1914. A more complete report
has not been published.

'' The Statement on this point in the Referee Board's report reads : " Follow-
ing these experiments (length of interval not indicated) four men took i gm. of
aluminum a day each for several days (whether in aluminized food or othermise
is not indicated) — corresponding to approximately 10 level teaspoonfuls of alum
baking powder — and then their blood was tested to detect any aluminum that
might be present in it. (Amount of blood taken and method of estimation not
stated.) No aluminum was found in the hlood." (Nothing stated about tests
for aluminium in the urinc.) This quoted statement appears in the part of the
report that summarizes the share of the work done by Prof. A. E. Taylor, from
whose laboratory Schmidt and Hoagland published the method referred to (as
theirs) in the succeeding papers (2-7) of this series, in this issue. (Schmidt
and Hoagland : Jour. Biol. Chem., 1912, xi, p. 387.)

William J. Gies 155

baking powders," although the report presents no evidence that this
opinion was based on the results of comparative experiments by the
Referee Board, or by any investigator.

The disagreement between the Referee Board's negative results
for absorption of aluminium into the blood (in men), and our own
positive findings (for dogs), appears to be an important discordance.
If our results in this connection are entirely wrong and the Referee
Board's are wholly right, my deductions (quoted above) regarding
the possible dangers attending the use of alum baking powder in
food for people (based mainly on the toxicity of absorbed alu-
minium) are obviously unreliable.

In reflecting on the possible reasons for the discrepancy between
our results and the findings of the Referee Board, I assumed that
the negative data for absorption of aluminium, in the experiments
by the Referee Board (on men), and our own positive results (on
dogs), were correct observations within the limits of accuracy of
the procedure followed for each group of experiments, I feared,
however, that our own analytic method for aluminium was less
efficient than that used by the Referee Board.^ On the other hand,
it seemed possible that the Referee Board did not take sufficient
quantities of blood, in the individual tests, for the detection of small
amounts of contained aluminium. I supposed, besides, that dogs
might differ from people both in tendency and in ability to absorb
aluminium under the conditions of the experiments now in review.

After concluding to conduct a further study of the facts in the
case, I aimed to project the research along the following three main
lines {A-C) :

A. Ascertain, with the independent Cooperation of several col-
leagues, the efficiency of the aluminium analytic procedure followed
by Steel, and by Kahn, in comparison with the method that may now
be the "best" for the quantitative determination of aluminium.

B. Determine the facts pertaining to absorption of aluminium
into the blood, and its excretion into the urine, of human subjects,
(a) through the agency of the aluminium analytic method found
(A) to be the "best," (&) in both small and large volumes of blood
and urine, and (c) with the independent collaboration of several
colleagues.

8 See f oot-note 5.

156 Sanitär y Studies of Baking Powders

C. Repeat, in at least one series of tests, the essential features of
the experiments by Kahn (and Steel), on dogs, but use the alu-
minium analytic method newly adjudged to be the " best " (A).

In Order to make this investigation comprehensive and particu-
larly reliable, and completely to forestall any possible suspicion of
prejudice on my part in favor of our previous findings, in case they
were correct and would be confirmed, I planned to put each section
of this research in charge of individuals or groups of workers
(" Units ") that would be geographically, psychologically and profes-
sionally independent. I proposed, to each individual or group of
workers involved, the Solution of specific problems withotit considta-
tion withj or giddance from, me, and without my divulging to any
" Unit " the name or names of , or the results obtained by, those in
the other " units," while the work was in progress. It was aimed,
in Short, to make the work of all the " units " coördinated but not
concerted.

A copy of my requests of, and suggestions to, one of the groups
of workers involved, is published below. It ülustrates the method
of procedure referred to above, as applied to all the groups of
workers concerned.

" My proposal is, in general, that you join a group of biological
chemists in an investigation of certain aspects of the 'baking powder
question' and that you coöperate in a study of the comparative
values of the best of the available methods for the biochemical deter-
mination of aluminium. This proposed study would involve the fol-
lowing conditions:

" I. That it be conducted by you (and any assistants you would
have) with entire independence of the other workers on the sub-
ject, you to be kept in ignorance of their names and results, and
vice versa, until the Joint completion of the work.

"2. Your report to me to be in the form of a finished paper for
the BiocHEM. Bull.; to be printed in that Journal after your ap-
proval of both galley and page proofs; and to be published nowhere
eise, prior to its appearance in the Biociiem. Bull.

" It is intended to make this research f ar-reaching in scope, accu-
rate in conduct, useful in public Service, and creditable profession-

William J. Gies 157

ally. The independence of each worker is calculated to facilitate
chemical accuracy and to insure scientific reliability beyond question.
Freedom to report separately each independent part of the research
will assure every other desirable consideration.

" In this study of the comparative values of available methods
f or the determination of aluminium, you would be asked to ascertain
particularly whether the method used by Steel {Amcr. Joiir. Physiol.,
191 1, xxviii, p. 96), and by Kahn (Biochem. Bull., 191 i, i, p.
237), was as good as, better than, or inferior to, the method used
by Schmidt and Hoagland {Joiir. Biol. Chem., 1912, xi, p. 387).
This would involve comparisons of determinations of aluminium in
Standard aqueous Solutions and in blood containing known propor-
tions of added aluminium.

" In this memorandum I am suggesting merely the most general
outlines of the proposed research. You would be free to ascertain
the essential facts in your own way as to details. // you endeavor to
do the work with every purpose to make an earncst, faithful, and
reliahle, scientific contribution to this important Symposium, you
woidd meet every expectation I coidd entertain."

This particular phase of the general investigation was begun
early in 19 15 and has been in continuous progress, in one phase or
another, ever since. The original plan has been extended to in-
clude a study of several types of baking powders.

The four succeeding papers of this series (2-5), in this issue,
present the results obtained for section A of the research on the
foregoing program, with supplementary comment, in a fifth (6),
and a sixth (7), on the method found to be the "best" for the de-
termination of aluminium in biological materials.'' The four com-
parative papers (2-5) are published "in the original," in the order
of their presentation, without revision of content or adjustment of
form.^'^

9 (2) Howe: Biochem. Bull., 1916, v, p. 158; (3) Curtman and Gross: Ibid.,
p. i6s; (4) Steel: Ibid., p. 173; (S) Smith and Hawk: Ibid., p. 183; (6) Gies:
Ibid., p. 189; (7) Balls: Ibid., p. IQS-

10 Some of the conventional revisions, on a typographical basis, to which
manuscripts for the Biochemical Bulletin are usually subjected, were also
withheld.

SANITARY STUDIES OF BAKING POWDERS

2. A comparison of the method proposed by the Association

of Official Agricultural Chemists as modified by Steel,

with that described by Schmidt and Hoagland, for the

determination o£ aluminum in organic material.

PAUL E. HOWE

(Biochemical Laboratory of Columhia University, at the College of Physicians

and Surgeons, New York)

(Received for publication, July lo, 1915)

Introduction. The method used by SteeP and Kahn,^ for the
determination of aluminum in organic material, was compared with
that described by Schmidt and Hoagland^ for the same purpose.
Steel, after examining various methods for the determination of
aluminum in the presence of iron and phosphates, selected the one
proposed by the Assoc. of Official Agric. Chem.^ as the most accurate
He modified this in that the iron was determined in an aliquot por-
tion of the sol. to be analyzed, instead of in the combined, ignited,
precipitate of aluminum and iron phosphates. Schmidt and Hoag-
land studied the conditions under which the Peters method for the
precipitation of aluminum in the presence of iron could be used in
accurate work.

I. The method used by Steel, as described by Kahn, was as
f ollows : Prelhninary oxidation of organic material: " The weighed
tissue was placed in a Kjeldahl flask and conc. nitric acid sol. added
to it. The flask was heated slowly at first and then more vigorously
until the sol. became clear, when a moderate excess of nitric acid sol.
was added and the liquid boiled down to a small volume. The fluid

1 Steel: Amer. Jour. Physiol., 191 1, xxviii, p. 94.

2 Kahn: Biochem. Bull., 1911, i, p. 235.

' Schmidt and Hoagland : Jour. Biol. Chem., 1912, xi, p. 387.
* Bull. 107, U. S. Dep't of Agric, 1907, p. 177.

158

Paul E. Howe 159

was then treated with a fairly large vol. of conc. sulfuric acid sol. for
the expulsion of the nitric acid and for the complete oxidation of any
residual organic matter. The sulfuric acid mixture was boiled for
at least 2 hr. after it became colorless, in order to eliminate NO,. The
residue was then dissolved in water, made up to vol., and the iron and
aluminium determined.

Determination of iron and aliiminum: " Obtain an aliquot portion
of the available acid sol. and remove any contained silica. Mix the
liquid with sodium phosphate sol. in excess of what is required to
form normal aluminium phosphate. Add sufficient ammonium
hydroxid sol. to effect complete precipitation of the aluminium phos-
phate after thorough stirring. Then add hydrochloric acid sol, drop
by drop, until the precipitate completely dissolves. Heat the liquid
to about 50° C. and mix with it, at that temp., a considerable excess
of 50 percent ammonium acetate sol. and also 4 cc. of 80 percent
acetic acid sol. As soon as the precipitate of aluminium phosphate
(mixed with iron phosphate) has sedimented, collect it on an ashless
filter, wash it with hot water, ignite it and then weigh the residue.

" In an aliquot portion of the original liquid determine the amount
of iron by the Zimmerman-Rheinhardt^ method. The calculated
amount of FePO^ is then subtracted from the weight of the mixed
AIPO, and FePO,."

In the analyses with this method the above procedure was fol-
lowed exactly as described. It was necessary, however, occasionally
to heat the filtrate to boiling in order to obtain a complete precipi-
tation of the phosphates.

II. Schmidt and Hoagland give the following description of their
method : An aliquot portion of the sol. obtained after the oxidation of
the tissues according to the method described by Kahn^ (see above)
is measured into a beaker, the silica dehydrated and filtered off. The
filtrate obtained is diluted to " about 300 cc. and should contain ap-
proximately 2.5 cc. of conc. hydrochloric acid. Tin is precipitated
from the hot sol. by hydrogen sulfid and filtered off. Di-ammonium
hydrogen phosphate is added to the sol. — 0.5 gm. for each 100 mg. of
aluminum phosphate present. The sol. is heated and, while hot, 5 gm.

5 Mixer and DuBois : Jonr. Amer. Chem. Soc, 1895, xvii, p. 405.
•5 Schmidt and Hoagland obtained their sol. for analysis by ashing the tissues
and then dissolving the residue.

i6o Sanitary Sfudies of Baking Powders

of ammonium thiosulfate (in sol.) and, after several minutes, 6 to 8
gm. of ammonium acetate (in sol.) and 4 cc. of strong acetic acid are
added. Heating is continued for about half an hour to expel SO2,
the precipitate allowed to settle, filtered and washed once by decanta-
tion. The precipitate is redissolved in 2 to 2.5 cc. of conc. hydro-
chloric acid, the sol. diluted to about 300 cc, 0.5 gm. of ammonium
phosphate added for each 100 mg. of aluminum phosphate present
and the aluminum precipitated as described above. The precipitate
is filtered and washed several times with hot water to remove Chlorides,
and ignited in a transparent silica crucible until constant weight is
reached to remove excess of P0O5."

Experimental. As a preliminary procedure, blank determina-
tions were carried out with both methods on dist. water, using the
quantities of Solutions and reagents required for the precipitation of
approximately 10 mg. of aluminum phosphate. The accompanying
results were obtained (Table i) :

TABLE I

Comparative data pertaining to the weights of material obtained in blank de-

terminations

A. O. A. C. (Steel) Method Schmidt-Hoagland Method

Milligram Milligram

1.0 0.7

0.6 0.6

0.8 0.6

0.8 0.6

0.9 0.5

Sol. of pure aluminum sulfate and ferric chlorid were used in
comparing the two methods under investigation. Quantities of alu-
minum sulfate sol. were weighed out such that the weight of alu-
minum phosphate obtained upon precipitation would be approxi-
mately 10 mg. When ferric chlorid was added it was in amounts
which gave approximately 20 mg. of the phosphate.

Aluminum sulfate. Analysis of the aluminum sulfate sol.
gave the results in Table 2 :

Paul E. Howe i6i

TABLE 2

Comparative data pertaining to the weights of AIPO^, in milligrams, obtained
upon analysis of pure Solutions of AL(SOi)s

A. O. A. C. (Steel) Method Schmidt-Hoagland Method

Found Theoretical Found Theoretical

Milligrams Milligrams Milligrams Milligrams

13-0 1 13.0

''■^ l 13.0 ''-^

^2.7 j •" 13.0

12.8 J 13.2 J

13.0

AlUMINUM SULFATE AND FERRIC CHLORID. AnalySCS of miX-

tures of aluminum sulfate and ferric chlorid in dist. water gave the
results in Table 3 :

TABLE 3*

Comparative data pertaining to the weights of AIPO*, in milligrams, obtained
upon analysis of pure Solutions of AL(S0i)3 and FeJCk

A. 0. A. C.

Found
Milligrams

(Steel) Method
Theoretical
Milligrams

Schmidt-Hoagland Method
Found Theoretical
Milligrams Milligrams

12.8

I3.I

13.4

13.9

14.0

14. 1

16.I

16.4

16.7

16.S

16.8

17.4

14.6

14.6

13.8

13.7

* In one set of determinations by the Schmidt-Hoagland method, the am-
monium acetate added was not sufficient to reduce the acidity to the point where
the aluminum would precipitate. In these cases the ignited residues obtained
were equal to those found in the blank determinations reported above.

Analysis of blood. Dog blood. Two dogs were bled com-
pletely, under local cocain anesthesia. The blood was drawn, ac-
cording to the procedure of Steel, into weighed flasks. Five gm.
of ammonium Oxalate were placed in the bottom of each flask to
prevent the clotting of the blood. To one sample a weighed por-
tion of the Standard aluminum sulfate sol. was added, the other
portion was analyzed as such. The digestion was carried out with
nitric and sulfuric acids. It was found more convenient to add the
blood to the hot nitric acid in small portions, heating after each
addition until the liquid was clear, than to add the nitric acid to the
total quantity of blood as proposed by Steel. The analytic results
in Table 4 were obtained.

102

Sanitary Studies of Baking Powders

TABLE 4

Comparative results of the analysis of fresh dog hlood, as such and after the
addition of AL(S0i)3, expressed as milligrams of AIPO^

A. O. A. C. (Steel) Method

Schmidt-Hoagland Method

Found

Theoretical

Found

Theoretical

Milligram

Dog I.

Blood (Blank)

Milligram

1.2

1.2

0.6

0.8

0.7

0.8

0.3

0.8

Dog II.
Milligrams Milligrams

Blood +Al2(S04)3

Milligrams

Milligrams

8.4 -]

9.0 ^

8.0

7-7

9.0

8.7
8.7

9.0

8.0 J

9.0 .

TABLE 5*

Comparative data pertaining to the weights of AIPO*, in milligrams, obtained
from dried goat blood to which Ah(S0i)3 had been addcd

A. 0. A. C. (Steel) Method
Found Theoretical

Milligrams Milligrams

Goat Blood (I)

Schmidt-Hoagland Method
Found Theoretical

Milligrams Milligrams

10.4 "

II.O "

10.3
9.6

8.8

II.2

10.8

8.8

10.3 .

II. I -

Milligrams

5 Milligrams

Goat Blood (II)

Milligrams

Milligrams

8.8 ^

9.6 ^

8.7
8.3

8.9

9-9

9.2

8.9

8.5 J

9.6 J

* The large discrepancy between the amount of aluminum added and that
found indicates the presence of aluminum in the original sample of blood. A
smaller sample of blood was used in the case of the second set of determina-
tions. A second sample of dried goat blood was obtained from the same dealer
and analyzed for aluminum according to the method of Schmidt and Hoagland.
The following results were obtained (percent of aluminum, as phosphate) :
0.056, 0.057, 0.062, 0.051, 0.056, 0.058 (average 0.055). This sample, like the one
used in studying the methods of analysis, had been specially ground. Extraneous
material obtained from the powder, by passing it through a loo-mesh sieve,
suggests that the aluminum found resulted from contamination.

Paul E. Howe 163

Goat blood. Samples of dry, pulverized goat blood, obtained in
the market and of doubtful purity, were oxidized as above, after the
addition of weighed amounts of the almiiinum sulfate sol. The
analytic results in Table 5 were obtained.

Discussion and conclusions. Data have been presented showing
the comparative results obtained with two methods for the determi-
nation of aluminum in the presence of iron; the method proposed
by the Assoc. of Official Agric. Chemists as modified by Steel, and
that described by Schmidt and Hoagland. The comparison is on
the basis of small amounts of aluminum (equivalent, approximately
to 10 mg. of aluminum phosphate or 4 mg. of aluminum oxide), such
as would probably be determined in the analysis of tissues.''^' ^

The results of the experiments show an agreement between the
two methods when aluminum is determined in sol. containing a pure
aluminum salt and in sol. containing mixtures of pure aluminum
and iron salts. The analysis of blood to which aluminum sulfate
had been added gave results which were slightly lower in the case
of the method proposed by the Assoc. of Official Agric. Chemists as
modified by Steel.

Considering the two methods from the point of view of manipu-
lation, the method of Schmidt and Hoagland commends itself par-
ticularly. The combined precipitate of sulfur and of aluminum
phosphate is readily filtered off and washed. We experienced some
difficulty at the beginning of our experiments with regard to the
amount of ammonium acetate required for precipitation of the
aluminum. Not enough ammonium acetate was added to obtain
a precipitate (the presence or absence of small precipitates of alu-
minum phosphate would be masked by the sulfur) because of the
acidity of the sol. This difficulty disappeared as soon as the proper
conditions were once established.

The method proposed by the Assoc. of Official Agric. Chemists,
as modified by Steel, presented considerable difficulty in the matter
of manipulation. Following the directions as given, we did not
always obtain complete precipitation at 50° C. It was necessary to
heat the filtrate to boiling to obtain the final traces of the phosphates.

^ Steel : Loc. cit.
8 Kahn : Loc. cit.

164 Sanitary Stiidies of Baking Powders

The data recorded for the pure sol. of aluminum and iron are those
obtained after a number of attempts in which the results did not ap-
proach the accuracy finally attained. With the small amounts of
aluminum and iron phosphates we did not experience the usual
trouble in washing the precipitate on the filter.

From the data reported it is concluded that, for small amounts
of aluminum in the presence of iron and phosphates, the method
proposed by the Assoc. of Official Agric. Chemists, as modified by
Steel, gives values which are essentially the same in the case of Solu-
tions of pure salts of aluminum, but slightly lower when applied to
blood to which aluminum sulfate has been added, when compared
with the results obtained with the method of Schmidt and Hoag-
land and with the quantities of aluminum known to be present.

SANITARY STUDIES OF BAKING POWDERS

3. A study of the methods for the quantitative determination

of aluminum in blood

L. J. CURTMAN and P. GROSS

(Laboratory of Analytical Chetnistry, College of the City of New York)

(Received for publication, November i, 1915)

The object of this investigation was a comparative study of the
best of the available methods for the quantitative determination of
aluminum in biological material. To this end it was desirable first
to experiment with known mixtures of Standard Solutions of alu-
minum and iron.

Preparation and standardization of sors. Aluminum sol.
Sixty-two gm. of Al2(S04)3-i8H20 (Kahlbaum) were dissolved in
5 1. of dist. water containing 50 cc. of H2SO4 (1:1). This gave a
sol. with an aluminum value of approximately i cc. = i mg. The
sol. was then standardized ; the results are given in Table i.

TABLE I

Data pertaining

to

the Standard alumi

num sc

dution

itNo.

Solution taken

AI found

Cc.

Milligrams

I

50

55-5

2

50

5S-5

3

50

5S.6

4

50

S5-5

5

50

55-4

6

SO

55-5

7

50

55-4

8

50

S5.6

9

•

SO

S5-5

Mean

value.

: I cc.= i.ii

mg.

of

AI

I. In Det'ns i, 2, 3 (Table i), definite volumes of the sol. were
evaporated to dryness in a weighed platinum dish, heated in an oven,

I6S

i66 Sanitary Studies of Baking Powders

ignited to ALOg over a blast and weighed as such. After digestion
with HCl and water, the precipitate gave only a very faint test for
Sulfate, showing that the decomposition to AI2O3 was complete.

II. In Det'ns 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 (Table i), the aluminum in
each case was precipitated by NH4OH as AI (OH) 3 in the presence
of NH4CI, ignited and weighed as AI2O3. In Det'ns 4, 5, 6, 7, the
ignitions were made in porcelain; in 8 and 9, platinum was used.
The precipitates in Det'ns 5, 6, and 9, were not washed completely
free of chlorides, as were the others, but no noticeable Variation
occurred on this account.

SOL. FOR THE TITRATION OF IRON BY THE MODIFIED ZlMMERMAN-
Rheinhardt METHOD.^

^.— KMnO^: w/50.

B. — HCl : I part of water to i part of HCl (sp. gr., 1.2).

C. — SnCla : 450 gm. of the salt in 450 gm. of HCl (sp. gr., 1.2),

and diluted to 2 1.
D. — HgClg : saturated Solution.
E. — Preventative sol. : 160 gm. of MnS04-4H20 dissolved in

1,750 cc. of water, plus 330 cc. of H3PO4 (sp. gr., 1.7)

and 320 cc. of H2SO4 (sp. gr., 1.84).

The Zimmerman-Rheinhardt method is conducted as follows : Heat
the HCl sol. of iron (which should not be greater than 50 cc. in vol.)
to boiling. While hot add SnCl,, drop by drop, tili colorless, then one
drop in excess. Add 10 cc. of HgClg sol., dilute to 500 cc. and add
6-8 cc. of preventative sol. Titrate with KMnO^ to first appearance
of pink that lasts for 20 seconds.

KMnO^ sol. {n/50). This sol., used in the above method, was
standardized as follows.

(a) Against Standard iron wire by sol. in HCl (i-i), reduction
and titration by the above method. {h) Against Mohr salt (Kahl-
baum) by sol. in water and titration in the presence of H2SO4. (c)
Against Na2Co04 (Bureau-of -Standards Sample No. 40), titrated hot
in the presence of H2SO4 to first lasting appearance of pink.

Concordant results were obtained by these methods. Since the
work described in this paper covered a period of several months, the
1 Mixer and DuBois : Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc, 1895, xvii, p. 405.

L. J. Curtman and P. Gross 167

iron titer of the sol. changed slightly. This was corrected by re-
standardizing the sol. at the time it was used for the determination
of the iron value of the blood.

FeCl^ sol. Five 1. of a sol., i cc. =: i mg. of Fe (approximately)
containing i percent of HCl (sp. gr., 1.2) was standardized as follows:

(a) Fifty cc. were evaporated in a porcelain dish with 5 cc. of
H2SO4 (sp. gr., 1.84) until SO3 fumes were produced, then transferred
to a weighed platinum dish, evaporated to dryness and ignited to Fe203
at a low red heat.

(&) Titration of 10 portions (5 of 25 cc, 5 of 50 cc.) against the
Standard KMnO^ sol. by the modified Zimmerman-Rheinhardt method.

The results of these 11 determinations did not vary by more than
O.Ol mg. for the value of i cc. in terms of iron. The mean of these
II experiments gave a value of i cc. = 1.098 mg. for the iron sol.

Comparison of methods. Of the methods proposed for the
determination of aluminum in biological material, two deserve con-
sideration; they are the method of SteeP and that of Schmidt and
Hoag-land.^

*^t>'

Steel's method.* " Obtain an aliquot portion of the available
acid sol. (after oxidation) and remove any contained silica. Mix the
liquid with sodium phosphate sol. in excess of what is required to form
normal aluminum phosphate. Add sufficient ammonium hydroxide to
effect complete precipitation of the aluminum phosphate after thorough
stirring. Then add hydrochloric acid sol., drop by drop, until the
precipitate completely dissolves. Heat the liquid to about 50° C. and
mix with it, at that temperature, a considerable excess of 50 percent
ammonium acetate sol. and also 4 cc. of 80 percent acetic acid sol.

2 Steel : Amer. Jour. of Physiol., 191 1, xxviii, p. 96.

3 Schmidt and Hoagland : Jour. Biol. Chem., 1912, xi, p. 387.

*The method proposed by Steel, although a modification of the official
method (U. S. Dept. of Agric, Bull. 107, p. 177), contains a sufficient number
of novel features to Warrant its consideration as a separate method. We have,
therefore, designated it throughout this article as Steel's method. Compared
with the official method, the procedure used by Steel is decidedly shorter and
as its shortcomings are not apparent, our experimental study was confined to a
comparison of the Schmidt-Hoagland method with that of Steel, instead of
with the official method.

i68

Sanitary Studies of Baking Powders

As soon as the precipitated aluminum phosphate (mixed with iron
phosphate) has sedimented, collect it on an ashless filter, wash it with
hot water, ignite it and then weigh the residue. In an aliquot portion
of the original acid liquid determine the amount of iron by the Zimmer-
man-Rheinhardt method.^ The calculated amount of FePO^ is then
subtracted from the weight of the mixed AIPO^ and FePO^."

This method was followed with but one exception. Enoug'h
sodium phosphate was added to form an excess over that required
to form both AIPO4 and FeP04. This is a necessary correction
probably accidentally omitted from Steel's description.

The results obtained by this method, with mixtures of FeCls and
Al2( 504)3, a^G given in Table 2.

TABLE 2

Data pertaining to results obtained with Steel's method

Taken

Theory

Found

No.

Fe, milli-
grams

AI. milli-
grams

AIPO4,

milligrams

FeP04,
milligrams

Sum: AIPO4 +
FeP04, milli-
grams

Sum: AIPO4 +
FeP04, milli-
grams

Loss, milli-
grams

ai
02
03

H
as
c6

54-9
54-9
54-9
54-9
54-9
54-9

27.7
27-7
27-7
27-7
12.2
16.6

125. 1
125. 1
125. 1
125.1
55-0
75-0

148.3
148.3
148.3
148.3
148.3
148.3

274.3
274-3
274-3
274-3
203-3
223-3

248.3
258.2

251.9
254-2
176.4
188.4

26.0
16.I
22.4
20.1
26.9
34.9

(o) Ignited in porcelain.
parent silica.

(b) Ignited in platinum. (c) Ignited in trans-

The precipitations were made in a vol. of 300-400 cc. The

precipitates were washed free of Chlorides only, no attempt being

made to wash free of phosphates since this would have resulted in

effecting the hydrolysis of the AIPO4 and FePO^.*^ The wash-water

contained a small amount of sodium acetate to prevent as much as

possible such hydrolysis. In Det'ns 3 and 4 (Table 2), the washing

was not completed, the runnings giving a decided test. This was

done to determine whether the losses as shown in Det'ns i and 2

were due to hydrolysis during the process of washing free from

" Mixer and DuBois : Loc. cit.

^Caven: Jour. See. Chem. Ind., 1896, xv, p. 17; Cameron and Hurst: Jour.
Amer. Chem. Soc, 1904, xxvi, p. 885.

L. J. Curtman and P. Gross

169

Chlorides. The results obtained indicate that some other error was
responsible for the loss, in addition to the possibiHty of hydrolysis.
Careful quahtative tests for both iron and aluminum, in the filtrates
after each precipitation, were negative.

The effect of ignition as a possiblc source of error was next con-
sidered. The known stabiHty of AIPO4, even at very high temp.,
caused attention to be turned to the effect of ignition on FeP04.
Nothing could be found in the literature on this subject. The ex-
periments in Table 3 were made with sol. of pure FeClg.

TABLE 3

Data pertaining to the instahility of FePOi at high temperatures

No.

Taken: Fe,

milligrams

Theory : FeP04,
milligrams

Found: FePOi,
milligrams

Recovered : fusion and
titration : Fe, milligrams

I
2

3

54-9
54-9
54-9

148.3
148.3
148.3

132.0
136.5
I33I

55-3
55-2

The procedure was identical with that employed for the mix-
tures (Table 2). The results of these experiments clearly show
that the observed losses were due to the instability of the FePO^.

Fusion of the ignited precipitates with NagCOa, followed by sol.
of the melt in HCl and titration of the iron after reduction, showed
(Det'ns 2 and 3, Table 3) that all the iron was in the precipitate.
Phosphoric acid must therefore be lost, either by hydrolysis or on
ignition, or in both processes.

The results of the above determinations (Tables 2 and 3) re-
quire the rejection of the method of Steel on purely theoretical
grounds.

It was thought necessary, however, before passing final judgment
on the inaccuracy of Steel's method, to run a number of determina-
tions with blood to which definite amounts of aluminum had been
added, in order to discover if any compensating errors occurred in
the entire process which might cause a correct result to be obtained.
The method followed in oxidizing the blood was that given by
Steel.''' The blanks were of necessity run by the method of Schmidt

T Steel : Lac. cit.

I/o

Sanitary Studies of Baking Powders

and Hoagland^ (see later) and showed no aluminum in the dog
or ox blood used in this work. The results are given in Table 4.

TABLE 4

Data pertaining to the determination of aluminum in blood by Steel's method

Animal

Blood,
grams

AI taken,
milligrams

Iron present by
titration, milligrams

Theory: AIPO4
+ FeP04, milligrams

Found: AIPO4
+ FePOi, milligrams

Dog

360
600

22.2

4.4

HO. 2
171-7

397-9

484.0

328.2

Ox

412.7

The low results shown in the above table conclusively prove the
unreliability of the method.

Method of Schmidt and Hoagland.° "The vol. at this point
should be about 300 cc. and contain about 2.5 cc. of conc. HCl. Di-
ammonium hydrogen phosphate is added to the sei. — 0.5 gm. for each
100 mg. of AIPO4 present. The sol. is heated, and while hot 5 gm. of
(NH4)„S203 (in sol.) and after several minutes 6-8 gm. of
NH4C2H3O2 (in sol.) and 4 cc. of strong acetic acid are added. Heat-
ing is continued for about J^ hr. to expel SO2, the precipitate allowed
to settle, filtered, and washed once by decantation. The precipitate is
redissolved in 2-2.5 cc of conc. HCl, the sol. diluted to 300 cc, 0.5 gm,
of (NH4)2HP04 added for each 100 mg. of AIPO4 present and the
aluminium ag^in precipitated as described above. The precipitate is
filtered and washed several times with hot water to remove Chlorides
and ignited in a transparent silica crucible, until constant weight is
reached, to remove excess of P2O5."

The above method was followed exactly. Silica crucibles were
used for the ignition of the AIPO4. The results obtained with pure
mixtures of iron and aluminum are given in Table 5 and leave noth-
ing to be desired.

The filtrations are extremely rapid and the ignitions proceed
very smoothly, requiring no special precautions.

8 Schmidt and Hoagland : Lac. cit.
•> Schmidt and Hoagland : Loc. cit.

L. J. Curtman and P. Gross

171

TABLE 5

Data pertaining to the determination of aluminum by the Schmidt-Hoagland

method

No

Taken

Theory

Found

Fe, milligrams

AI, milligrams

AIPO4, milligrams

AIPO4, milligrams

I
2

3

4
5

54-9
54-9
54-9
54-9
54-9

27-7
27-7
27.7
II. I
SS

125. 1

125. 1

125. 1

50.0

25.0

125.2
125-2

125-3
50.2

25.1

In Table 6 are given the results obtained, with this method,
with dog and ox bloods^*^ to which definite quantities of aluminum
had been added.

TABLE 6

Data pertaining to the determination of aluminum in hlood by the Schmidt-
Hoagland method

Taken

Theory

Found

Animal

Blood, grams

AI, milligrams

AIPO4, milli-
grams

AIPO4, milli-
grams

AI, milligrams

Dog

360
987

II. I

4.4

50.0
20.0

49-5
19.4

II.O

Ox

4.3

It was not thought necessary to investigate the method of the
Dep't of Agric, for the reason that, even if it did yield as accurate
results as those obtained above by the method of Schmidt and Hoag-
land, the longer time and the number of different Operations re-
quired, as compared with the method of Schmidt and Hoagland,
would cause its rejection. In the method of Schmidt and Hoagland
a direct gravimetric estimation of aluminum is made by a procedure
involving two precipitations and one ignition. The official method,
on the other hand, requires a precipitation of the iron and aluminum
as phosphate, fusion of the precipitate, and an estimation of the
contained P2O5 ; finally a Volumetrie determination of the iron in a
separate portion calling for a Standard sol. of KMn04. This pro-
cedure necessitates at least three precipitations, two ignitions and
weighings, and one titration. It is evident, therefore, that all the
objections to Steel's method on the score of technique apply here

10 The blood was oxidized by the method of Steel : Loc. cit.

172 Sanitary S tu dies of Baking Powders

with greater force, although the method has a correct theoretical
basis.

Conclusions. I. The method of Steel has been shown to be
unreliable, due to the instabihty of FeP04. For the determination
of small quantities of aluminum in the presence of relatively large
amounts of iron, the method is unsatisfactory owing to the increas-
ing error occasioned by the latter.

II. Accurate results were obtained by the method of Schmidt
and Hoagland both in pure sol. and in blood.

III. From the point of view of technique, the method of Schmidt
and Hoagland is superior to that of Steel for the following reasons :

(a) A direct gravimetric determination of aluminum is effected.
No Volumetrie sol. or Operations are required and the aluminum is
not found by difference (thus taking the sum of the errors).

(&) The determination is made on the entire sample, not on an
aliquot portion of the sol. as in Steel's method and, as a consequence,
the error in dealing with small amounts is thus materially decreased.

(c) The tedium of washing the precipitates is to a great extent
avoided without any sacrifice of accuracy.

SANITARY STUDIES OF BAKING POWDERS

4. The determination of aluminum in the presence of iron and

organic matter

MATTHEW STEEL

(Laboratory of Biological Chemistry of the Long Island College Hospital)

(Received for publication, January 25, 1916)

Contents

Page

I. Introduction 173

IL Experimental work 1 74

1. Reagents and apparatus employed 174

2. Standardization of the KMnO* sol 175

3. Estimation of iron in the Standard FeCla sol 175

4. Estimation of iron in the Standard FeCU sol. in the presence of

sodium alum 176

5. Estimation of iron in the Standard FeCU sol. by the unmodified

A.O.A.C. method 176

6. Estimation of aluminum by the modified A.O.A.C. method (Steel) 176

7. Estimation of iron and aluminum by the Government Research

Committee method 177

8. Estimation of aluminum by the Schmidt-Hoagland method 178

9. Estimation of aluminum in the presence of organic matter by each

of the three methods noted in sub-sections 6, 7, and 8 180

III. Discussion of the relative merits of the three methods (accuracy and

precision attainable in aqueous sol. and in the presence of large
amounts of organic matter) 181

IV. Conclusions 182

I. Introduction. A f ew years ago the author ( i ) , at the Sug-
gestion of Dr. Gies, undertook a study of the absorption of alu-
minum from aluminized foods. In the course of this research it
became necessary to make a careful comparative study of the best
methods for the estimation of aluminum. The details of this study
of the methods were not published in connection with the data on
absorption of aluminum, but the following Statements were made:
"After several trials of all the Standard methods had been com-

173

1/4 Sanitary Studies of Bak'mg Powders

pleted, the method adopted by the Assoc. of Official Agric. Chem-
ists (2), with a slight modification, was chosen. . . . This method
was followed precisely with one exception: instead of fusing the
combined phosphates (after ignition) with sodium carbonate, the
iron was determined by the Zimmerman-Rheinhardt method (3) in
an ahquot portion of the original acid sol. The calculated amount
of FeP04 was subtracted from the combined weights of AIPO4 ^i^d
FeP04. Many determinations were made by this method on mix-
tures of pure Solutions of ferric chlor id and almn, and perfectly
accurate results were ohtained."

Later Dr. Max Kalin (4), while working on a similar problem,
re-verified the accuracy of the method chosen by Steel (5).

The principal objection to the method is the length of time re-
quired to perform it. This factor has led other analysts to seek a
shorter but equally accurate method. In 1912, Schmidt and Hoag-
land (6) published a method which they claimed to be comparatively
quick and accurate.

II. Experimental work. i. Reagents and apparatus em-
PLOYED. The reagents used in this work were selected with the
greatest care and tests were made to verify their purity. The potas-
sium permanganate sol. used was an old sample of good quality.
The sodium Oxalate used in standardizing the potassium permanga-
nate sol. was a " Bureau-of-Standards Standard sample No. 40." All
the pipettes, burettes, and Volumetrie flasks used were standardized
before using.

The following reagents were made up before starting the analytical
experiments :

A. — Potassium permanganate Solution: w/40,

B. — Stannous chlorid: 50 gm. of the pure crystallized salt were
dissolved in 100 cc. of hot conc. hydrochloric acid and
made up to i 1. with dist. water.

C. — Mercuric chlorid: A cold saturated Solution.

D. — Preventive sol.: (a) 100 gm. of manganese sulfate were
dissolved in 500 cc. of water; (b) 200 cc. of H2SO4 were
poured into 300 cc. of water and 500 cc. of syrupy phos-
phoric acid (1.3 sp. gr.) added; then (a) and (b) were
mixed.

Matthew Steel 175

E. — Ferric chlorid: 5 gm. of FeClg were dissolved in dist. water

in a 500 cc. flask and made up to volume,
F. — Sodium dum: 20 gm. of sodium alum were dissolved in

dist. water and made up to a liter.
G. — Standard blank soL: 25 gm. of sodium phosphate, 15 gm. of

potassium chlorid, 1 1 gm. of calcium chlorid, and 1 1 gm.

of magnesium chlorid, were mixed with 800 cc. of dist.

water and just enough hydrochloric acid to effect sol.

The mixture was then made up to i 1.

2. Standardization of THE KMnO^ SGL. The potassium per-
manganate used for all of this work was an old, approximately
n/40, sol., which had been made up over a year previously. A portion
of this sample was filtered and diluted to n/40 strength for use. The
diluted permanganate sol. was standardized against a n/40 sol. of
oxalic acid, and against weighed portions of sodium Oxalate.

A. Standardising with oxalic acid. In preparing the n/40 oxalic
acid sol., 0.7878 gm. of oxalic acid were dissolved in 500 cc. of water.

(a) 20 cc. of the n/40 oxaHc acid required 20.80 cc. of the KMnOi.
(&) 20 " " " " " " " 20.75 "

\c) 20 " " " " " " " 20.80 "

« II «

B. Standardising with sodium Oxalate. In standardizing the per-
manganate sol. with sodium Oxalate, the conditions outlined in the
"U. S. Bur. of Standards' Circular No. 40" (7) were followed.

(a) 0.0335 g"i- of sodium Oxalate required 20.80 cc. of the KMnO.4.
\h) " " " " " " 20.85 " " "

(c) " " " " " " 20.80 " " "

The average of the six tests equals 20.8. A " blank " on the reagents
used in the above tests indicated absence of all oxidizable substances.
Therefore, i cc. of the KMnO^ sol. had a value of 1.93 mg. of FeaOg.

3. ESTIMATION OF THE IRON IN THE STANDARD FeCl^ SOL.

The iron was determined in the Standard sol. first by the Mixer and
DuBois (8) modification of the Zimmerman-Rheinhardt method,
and second, by Jones and Jeffrey's (9) modification of the Zimmer-
man-Rheinhardt method. The following results were obtained :

1/6

Sanitary Stiidies of Baking Powders

First method : lo cc. of the FeClg sol. required 17.70 cc. of the KMn04

ii (i i( II (i ii i( (< jt- ^^ ii

Second " " " " " " " 17.75"

i< (< <( (< (( <( ii <( jf- »-. ii

Average ^7-72

ii

ii

ii

ii

ii

ii

ii

{(

ii

Therefore, i cc. of the FeCla sol. is equivalent to 3.42 mg. of FeaOg.

4. ESTIMATION OF THE IRON IN THE STANDARD FeCLs SOL. IN
THE PRESENCE OF SODIUM ALUM. IQ CC. of thc FcCls SOl. WCrC

mixed with 10 cc. of the 2 per cent. sol. of sodium alum; then the
mixture was analyzed according to Jones and Jeffrey's (10) modi-
fication of the Zimmerman-Rheinhardt method, with the following
results :

(a) 17.70 cc. of KMn04 sol. were required.

(b) 17.75 " "

These results show that the method is absolutely accurate in the
presence of aluminum,

5. ESTIMATION OF IRON IN THE STANDARD FEÜLg SOL. BY THE

UNMODiFiED A.O.A.C. METHOD. The only advantage of the modi-
fied method (Steel's) over the original A.O.A.C. method Hes in
the greater facility in estimating the iron. That equally accurate
results can be obtained by both methods can be seen by a glance at
Table i.

TABLE I*

Data pertaining to the estiniation of iron by the A.O.A.C. method and Steel's

method

No. of Exp.

Weight of
AlP04+FeP04,

milligrams

Weight ofFePO«
caiculated from

the KMn04
det'n, milligrams

Equivalent in

FezOs,

milligrams

Weight ofFeP04

as det'd by the

A.O.A.C. method,

milligrams

Equivalent in

FejOs.

milligrams

I
2

3

90.3
90.9
90.1

64.6
64.6
64.6

17. 1
17.I
17. 1

64.8
65.0
64.4

I7.I
17.2
17.0

* 10 cc. of the Standard ferric chlorid sol. plus 5 cc. of the Standard alum
sol. were used in each of these experiments.

6. ESTIMATION OF ALUMINUM BY THE MODIFIED A.O.A.C.

METHOD (Steel's). The estimation of aluminum by this method

Matthew Steel

177

consists in determining the weight of the combined iron and aki-
minum phosphates according to the technique of the A.O.A.C.
method, then determining the iron content by the Mixer and Du-
Bois (11) modification of the Zimmerman-Rheinhardt permanga-
nate method in an ahquot portion of the original acid sol. A
" blank " is made on the reagents used in the method and the " weight
of the blank" is added to the amount of FeP04; this weight is then
subtracted from the combined weights of AIPO4 and FePO^. See
Table 2.

TABLE 2

Data pertaining to the estimation of aluminum by Steel's method

No. of Exp.

Amts, of the Standard sol.
used in each exp., cc.

Wt.of

AIPO4

+ FeP04,

milligrams

Wt. of

FeP04, cal-

culated from

the KMn04,

milligrams

"Blank"

on the

reagents

used,

milligrams

Wt.of
AIPO4,

milligrams

Equivalent
wt. of
AlsOa,

milligrams

I

5 of alum sol.
IG of iron sol.

90.3

64.6

0.6

25.1

10.50

2

5 of alum sol.
IG of iron sol.

91.2

64.6

0.6

26.0

10.88

3

5 of alum sol.
10 of iron sol.

90.1

64.6

0.6

24.9

10.44

4

2 of alum sol.
5 of iron sol.

43-0

32.3

0.5

10.2

4-27

5

2 of alum sol.
5 of iron sol.

42.9

32.3

0.5

lO.I

4-23

7. Estimation of iron and aluminum by the Government
Research Committee method (12). This method is very simi-
lar to the modified A.O.A.C. method used by Steel (13). How-
ever, there are a few minor differences which are worthy of note,
the most important of which are the following:

A. — The use of ammonium phosphate instead of sodium phos-
phate.

B. — Performing the acid digestion of the iron and aluminum
phosphates in flasks made of glass containing little
alumina, such as " Kavalier " er " F-Z resistant glass."*

* This committee was estimating the iron and aluminum content of phosphate
rock, which contained more or less fluorin. They condemn the use of glass con-
taining a relatively high percentage of alumina on account of the solvent action
of the fluorin. This precaution is of little moment in the estimation of aluminum
in animal tissues or foodstuffs, as fluorin is rarely if ever present in these sub-
stances.

178 Sanitary Studie s of Baking Powders

C. — The use of methyl orange as the indicator to control the
acidity on adding the ammonium acetate.

D. — Redissolving the phosphate precipitate in dilute HCl sol.
and performing a second precipitation with ammonium
acetate.

E. — The use of a " Meker " burner instead of a blast lamp.

F. — Using the Jones and Jeffrey modification of the Zimmer-
man-Rheinhardt method (14) for the estimation of iron
instead of the Mixer and DuBois (15) modification of
the same method used by Steel (16).

TABLE 3

Data pertaining to the estimation of iron and alutninum by the method proposed
by the Government Research Committee

Wt. of

Wt. of

FeP04, cal-

"Blank"

Wt.of

Equivalent

Exp. no.

Amts, of the Standard sol.

AIPO4 +

culated from

on the sol.

AIPO4,

wt. of AljOa,

used in each exp., cc.

FeP04,

the KMn04

used, milli-

milligrams

milligrams

milligrams

det., milli-
grams

grams

I

5 of alum sol.
10 of iron sol.

91.0

64.6

0.8

25.6

10.71

2

5 of alum sol.
10 of iron sol.

90.4

64.6

0.8

25-0

10.46

3

5 of alum sol.
10 of iron sol.

90.7

64.6

0.8

25.3

10.58

4

10 of alum sol.
20 of iron sol.

181. 8

129.2

i.i

51-5

21.54

S

lö of alum sol.
20 of iron sol.

181.3

129.2

i.i

51.0

21.34

6

2 of alum sol.
4 of iron sol.

36.2

25.8

0.4

lO.O

4.18

7

2 of alum sol.
4 of iron sol.

36.4

25.8

0.4

10.2

4.27

8. Estimation of aluminum in the Standard alum sol. by
THE Schmidt and Hoagland method (17). In aqueous sol.
this method is comparatively simple. The technique is essentially as
f ollows :

To the acid sol. one adds 0.5 gm. of ammonium phosphate for each
100 mg. of AIPO4 known to be present. The sol. is then heated and,
while hot, 5 gm. of ammonium thiosulphate (in sol.) are introduced;
the sol. is allowed to stand awhile, then 6 to 8 gm. of ammonium acetate
(in sol.) and 4 cc. of strong acetic acid are added. The mixture is

Matthew Steel

179

heated for 30 minutes to expel the SOo, the precipitate is allowed to
settle, filtered and washed once by decantation. The precipitate is
redissolved in 2 to 2.5 cc. of conc. hydrochloric acid, diluted to about
300 cc. with water, and the aluminum reprecipitated as described above.
The precipitate is filtered and washed several times with hot water to
remove Chlorides, and ignited in a transparent silica crucible in a Meker
furnace to constant weight.

In the following experiments the same relative amounts of the
Standard iron sei. that were used in the other experiments were ad-
mixed with the alum sei. to keep the conditions identical. In some
of the experiments there were added 50 cc. of the following Standard
"blank" sol. : 25 gm. of sodium phosphate, 15 gm. of potassium
Chlorid, 11 gm. of calcium chlorid, and 11 gm. of magnesium chlorid
mixed with 800 cc. of dist. water and just enough HCl to effect sol. ;
then made up to i 1. It was assumed that a mixture of sodium alum,
ferric chlorid, and the ingredients of the above Standard "blank"

TABLE 4

Data pertaining to the estimation of aluminum in a Standard alum sol. by the

Schmidt and Hoagland tnethod

" Blank" on the

Equivalent wt.

No. of

Amounts of the Standard sol. used

Wt. of AIPO4,

reagents used.

of AI2O3,

Exp.

in each exp., cc.

milligrams

milligrams

milligrams

I

5 of the alum sol.
10 of the iron sol.

24.8

0.2

10.29

2

5 of the alum sol.
10 of the iron sol.

24.6

0.2

10.21

3

IG of the alum sol.
20 of the iron sol.

50.2

0.2

20.92

4

10 of the alum sol.
20 of the iron sol.

49.8

0.2

20.75

S

10 of the alum sol.

20 of the iron sol.

50 of the Standard blank sol.

SO.o

0.4

20.75

6

10 of the alum sol.

20 of the iron sol.

so of the Standard blank sol.

49.6

0.4

20.59

7

5 of the alum sol.
10 of the iron sol.
50 of the Standard blank sol.

25.2

0.4

10.46

8

5 of the alum sol.
10 of the iron sol.
50 of the Standard blank sol.

24.9

0.4

10.25

9

5 of the alum sol.
10 of the iron sol.
50 of the Standard blank sol.

24.9

0.4

10.25

i8o Sanitary Studies of Baking Powders

sol. would embrace all the analytical difficulties usually encountered
in determining aluminum in the presence of large amounts of or-
ganic matter (after incineration). The results of these analyses are
recorded in Table 4.

9. ESTIMATION OF ALUMINUM IN THE PRESENCE OF ORGANIC
MATTER BY EACH OF THE THREE METHODS NOTED IN SUB-SECTIONS
6, 7 AND 8.

Oxidation of the organic matter: 25 gm. of hashed lean beef and
30 cc. of H0SO4 were placed into each of 4 Kjeldahl flasks marked
A, B, C, and D. To each of flasks A and B, 30 cc. of the Standard
alum sol., 60 cc. of the Standard iron sol., and 10 cc. of conc. HNO3
were added. To each of flasks C and D, 60 cc. of the Standard
alum sol., 120 cc. of the Standard iron sol., and 10 cc. of conc. HNO3
were added. The mixtures were digested until the sol. became color-
less. When necessary, small quantities of ammonium nitrate were
added f rom time to time to facilitate the oxidation process.

On cooling, 20 cc. of conc. HCl and 100 cc. of water were intro-
duced, and this mixture was heated to boiling and filtered into a 300
cc. flask. After washing the residue with water, it was washed into a
beaker with water and 10 cc. of conc. HCl were added. This was
boiled, diluted with water and filtered into the flask containing the first
filtrate. If any residue remained, which rarely occurred, it was treated
in the same manner and the filtrate was again added to the flask. On
cooling to room temp., each flask was made up to vol. Aliquot por-
tions of these sol. were used for estimating the iron and aluminum
Contents. Since the Volumetrie flasks contained 300 cc, in flasks A
and B 50 cc. portions were equivalent to 5 cc. of the Standard alum sol.,
and IG cc, of the Standard iron sol. In flasks C and D, 50 cc. portions
were equivalent to 10 cc. of the alum sol. and 20 cc. of the iron sol.

The iron content was estimated on samples from each flask and
the results, which were remarkably concordant, were but a fraction
of a milligram higher than the average of the results obtained on
equivalent portions of the original Standard ferric chlorid sol. This
slight increase may be attributed to the iron content of the beef.
There was no increase in aluminum. The results obtained by all
three methods are recorded in Table 5.

Matthew Steel

i8i

TABLE 5

Data periaining to the comparative efficiency of ihe three methods {Steel's, Gov.
Research Cotnmitiee's, and Schmidt and Hoagland's)

Found

Calculated

Method used

No.of
exp.

Wt. of

AIPO4

+FeP04,

milligrams

Wt. of FeP04,
calculated from

the KMn04
det'n, milligrams

Wt. of
AIPO4.

milligrams

Equivalent
wt. of
AI2O3,

milligrams

Frora the aver-
age of the det'n

in the aqueous
sei., milligrams

I

90.8

65.2

25.6

10.71

10.48

2

89.8

65.2

24.6

10.21

10.48

Modified A. O. A. C.
method (Steel)

3

4
5

180.4
27.0
26.8

130.4
14-5
14-5

50.0
12. 5

12.3

20.92

5-23
5.16

20.96
5.24
S.24

6

10.6

5-8

4.8

2.01

2.09

7

10.5

5-8

4-7

2.00

2.09

8

90.4

65.2

25-2

10.54

10.48

9

90.1

65.2

24.9

10.42

10.48

Government R e -

10

181.4

130.4

51-0

21.33

20.96

search Committee

II

27.1

14-5

12.6

5.27

5-24

method

12

26.9

14-5

12.4

5.19

5.24

13

10.7

5.8

4.9

2.0s

2.09

14

10.9

5-8

5-1

2.12

2.09

15

25.0

10.46

10.48

i6

24.7

10.34

10.48

Schmidt-Hoagland
method

17
18

19

50.1
12.3
12.4

20.96
5.16
5.19

20.96
5.24
5.24

20

4.8

2.01

2.09

21

S-o

2.09

2.09

III. Discussion of the relative merits of the three methods:
accuracy and precision attainable in aqueous sol. and in the
presence of large amounts of organic matter. The accuraqr of
the results obtained by the phosphate methods is affected (a) by
varying conc. of mineral acids at the time of precipitation of the
iron and aluminum as phosphates, (b) by the presence of aluminum
in appreciable quantities in the glassware used, (c) by variations in
the relative proportions of iron to aluminum (the best results are
obtained when the proportion of iron to aluminum is about 2 to i ) ,
(d) by the quantities of iron and aluminum contained in the portion
used for analysis (the most accurate results are obtained when the
combined iron and aluminum phosphates do not weigh over 100
mg.) and (e) hy the temp. to which the crticihles are heated (either
the blast lamp, the muffle furnace, or the Meker burner may be used
to effect this incineration with equal accuracy, but the author prefers
the Meker hurner). "^

* Italics were inserted by the editor of the Biochem. Bull. See page 169.

i82 Sanitary Stiidies of Baking Pozuders

When all these precautions are observed the phosphate methods,
as outlined in this paper, may be relied upon to yield accurate results
for aluminum, both in aqueous sol. and when derived from organic
matter, even when only a few milligrams of aluminum are present
in the sample analyzed.

The Schmidt and Hoagland method yields equally accurate re-
sults and has the advantage over the other methods of being simpler.

IV. Conclusions. i, The method used by Steel in his work on
the "Absorption of aluminum from aluminized food" yields accu-
rate results for aluminum when care is taken in the technique.

2. The method proposed by the U. S. Government Committee
on Research and Analytical Methods is very similar to the method
used by Steel. This method yields accurate results for aluminum,
both in aqueous sol. and in the presence of large amounts of organic
matter.

3. The Schmidt and Hoagland method is as accurate as the
other two methods, and has the advantage over them of involving
fewer manipulations.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Steel: Amer. Jour. PhysioL, 191 1, xxviii, p. 94.

2. U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Chem., Bull. 107, 1908, p. 177.

3. Zimmerman-Rheinhardt: Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc, 1895, ^vii,

P. 405..

4. Kahn: Biochem. Bull., 191 i, i, p. 235.

5. Steel : Loc. cit.

6. Schmidt and Hoagland: Jour. Biol. Chem., 1912, xi, p. 387.

7. U. S. Bur. Standards, Cir. 40, 1912. (Republished in the Jour.

Amer. Chem. Soc., 191 2, xxxiv, p. 393.)

8. Mixer and DuBois : Modification of the Zimmerman-Rheinhardt

method: Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc, 1895, xvii, p. 405.

9. Jones and Jeffrey: Analyst, 1909, xxxiv, p. 306.

10. Jones and Jeffrey : Ihid.

11. Mixer and DuBois: Loc. cit.

12. U. S. Dept. Agr., Com. on Research and Analytical Methods :

Jour. Jnd. and Chem. Eng., 191 5, vii, p. 446.

13. Steel: Loc. cit. (i).

14. Jones and Jeffrey: Loc. cit. (9).

15. Mixer and DuBois: Loc. cit. (11).

16. Steel: Loc. cit. (i).

17. Steel: Ihid. (i).

SANITARY STUDIES OF BAKING POWDERS

5. The determination of aluminium in biological material: a

comparison of the method of Steel (modified by Kahn)

with the method of Schmidt and Hoagland

CLARENCE A. SMITH and PHILIP B. HAWK

(Laborafory of Physiological Chemistry, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia)
(Received for publication, January 29, 1916)

Introduction. As a preliminary to work concerning the ab-
sorption of aluminium, we compared the two methods which are
most used for the quantitative estimation of aluminium. These two
methods are the one proposed by Steel^ and modified by Kahn^;
and the method of Schmidt and Hoagland.^

Aluminium was determined by each method in (i) a water sol.
containing a known amount of alum, (2) a water sol. containing
a known amount of alum and different amounts of ferric chlorid,
(3) human gastric juice to which a known amount of a Standard
sol. of alum had been added (determination made directly without
evaporation and ashing), (4) human gastric juice evaporated and
ashed after the addition of a known amount of Standard alum sol.,
and (5) beef blood to which a known amount of Standard alum
sol. had been added.

We hoped to obtain a Standard sol. of an aluminium salt from the
U. S. Bureau of Standards, but this was found to be unavailable.
A pure preparation of alum (crystallized potassium aluminium Sul-
fate) was made by twice recrystallizing Baker's analyzed potassium
aluminium sulfate. In making the "Standard sol. of alum" used
throughout the experiment, 9.2863 gm. of the pure crystallized alum
were dissolved in dist. water and diluted to 500 cc. This sol. con-

1 Steel, M. : Amer. Jour. Physiol., 1911, xxviii, p. 100.

2 Kahn, Max: Biochem. Bull., 191 1, i, p. 237.

3 Schmidt, C. L. A., and Hoagland, D. R. : Jour. Biol. Chem., 1912, xi, p. 437-

183

i84 Sanitary Studies of Baking Powders

tained 0.002 gm. of AI2O3 per cc, and was added in known amounts
to the blood and gastric juice to be analyzed for aluminium. It was
used also for analysis directly and after being mixed with ferric
chlorid sol.

Preliminary treatment of gastric juice. Clear gastric juice
was obtained by mixing and filtering several samples of juice ob-
tained from different subjects after ingestion of Ewald or other
test meals. These subjects were used in experiments not con-
nected with this investigation, and in no case did the meal ingested
contain any bread made with alum baking powder. Known amounts
of the Standard alum sol. were added to this clear juice, and the
juice was then analyzed, either directly or after ashing, in the
f ollowing manner :

To 50 cc. portions of this clear gastric juice, 10 cc. portions of
the Standard alum sol. (equivalent to 20 mg. of AI0O3) were added,
and the aluminium determined in the resulting mixtures by each
method. To another portion of the clear gastric juice (approxi-
mately 200 cc), 25 cc. of the Standard alum sol. (containing the
equivalent of 50 mg. of AI2O3) were added, and the mixture evapo-
rated to dryness in a silica dish on a water-bath. When nearly
dry, the residue was ashed over a free flame with the aid of conc.
nitric acid. The ash was taken up with hydrochloric acid, dehy-
drated to remove silica, again taken up with a little hydrochloric acid
and water, filtered into a 250 cc. vol. flask, and diluted to the mark
with dist. water. Fifty cc. portions of this sol. (containing the
equivalent of 10 mg. of added AI2O3) were then analyzed for alu-
minium by each method.

Preliminary treatment of the beef blood. Twenty cc. of the
Standard alum sol. (equivalent to 40 mg. of AI2O3) were added to
approximately 500 cc. of oxalated'* beef blood. Another portion of
approximately 500 cc. was used as a check and received no addition
of alum sol. The two portions of blood were then placed in 2-liter
round-bottomed Jena flasks, and oxidized by heating with conc.
nitric and sulfuric acids, using small amounts of potassium per-
manganate to complete the oxidation. The process of oxidation was

* Some clotting occurred due to faulty shaking during the collection of the
blood.

Clarence A. Smith and Philip B. Hawk 185

exceedingly long and tedious. After the oxidation was completed
each portion was transferred to a 500 cc. vol. flask and diluted to
the mark with dist. water. Aluminium was then determined, by each
method, in 200 cc. portions of these sol. A 200 cc. portion of the
sol. obtained f rom the blood to which alum sol. had been added, con-
tained the equivalent of 8 mg. of AUOg, while a 200 cc. portion of
the other sol. contained no added alum.

The Standard alum sol. was used directly for the determination
of aluminium by each method, and was also mixed with ferric
chlorid sol. in different amounts and analyzed by each method.

The method proposed by SteeP and modified by Kahn^ depends
upon the precipitation and weighing of the iron and aluminium as the
phosphate. Iron is determined in the original sol. by the Zimmerman-
Reinhardt permanganate titration method, which is described by Mixer
and DuBois,'^ and ferric phosphate is calculated from this value. The
weight of ferric phosphate is subtracted from the weight of pre-
cipitated ferric and aluminium phosphates to obtain the weight of
aluminium phosphate. Each cc. of the permanganate sol. used was
equivalent to 7.15 mg. of ferric phosphate.

The precipitation is carried out in the following manner: Mix the
acid sol. in which the aluminium is to be determined, after the removal
of silica, with sodium phosphate sol. in excess of the amount needed
to form normal aluminium phosphate with the aluminium present.
Add sufficient ammonium hydroxid sol. to effect the complete precipita-
tion of the aluminium phosphate after thorough stirring, then add
hydrochloric acid, drop by drop, until the precipitate completely dis-
solves. Heat the liquid to about 50° C. and mix with it, at that temp.,
a considerable excess of ammonium acetate sol. (50 percent) and also
4 cc. of 80 percent acetic acid sol. As soon as the precipitate of
aluminium phosphate (mixed with iron phosphate) has sedimented,
collect it on an ashless filter, wash with hot water, ignite and weigh the
residue of AIPO^ which is mixed with FeP04.

The method used by Schmidt and Hoagland^ for the determination
of aluminium in feces depends upon the precipitation and weighing of
aluminium as the phosphate, the iron present being kept in sol. in the

^ Steel, M. : Loc. cit.
^ Kahn, M. : Loc. cit.

7 Mixer, C. T., and DuBois, H. W. : Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc, 1895, xvii, p. 405.

8 Schmidt and Hoagland : Loc. cit.

i86 Sanitary Studies of Baking Powders

presence of ammonium acetate and acetic acid after reduction by
thiosulfate.

The method is carried out in the following manner: The Solution
in which the aluminium is to be determined should be, after the removal
of silica, about 300 cc. in vol. and contain about 2.5 cc. of conc. hydro-
chloric acid. Add di-ammonium hydrogen phosphate to the sol. (0.5
gm. for each 100 mg. of aluminium phosphate present), heat and add,
while hot, 5 gm. of ammonium thiosulfate^ in sol., and after several
minutes, 6 to 8 gm. of ammonium acetate in sol., and 4 cc. of strong
acetic acid sol. (80 percent was used). Continue heating the sol. for
about 30 min. completely to expel sulfur dioxid, allow the precipitate
to settle, filter, and wash once by decantation. Dissolve the precipitate
in 2 to 2.5 cc. of conc. hydrochloric acid, dilute the sol. to about 300 cc,
add 0.5 gm. of ammonium phosphate for each 100 mg. of aluminium
phosphate present, and again precipitate the aluminium as described
above. Filter and wash several times with hot water to remove
Chlorides, dry and ignite in a transparent silica crucible until constant
weight is obtained.

The authors found it necessary, when there were large amounts of
iron present in the sol. containing the aluminium, to resort to a third
or even fourth precipitation of the aluminium phosphate, in order to
obtain a precipitate free from iron. This process may be avoided by
using larger amounts of thiosulfate and heating for longer periods of
time.

Analytic results. The analytic data are recorded in the accom-
panying tables (i and 2).

Discussion. An examination of the results obtained by the
method of Steel (and Kahn), as summarized in Table i, shows, with
the exception of Det'ns 25 and 26, aluminium values uniformly
lower than the theoretical amounts added. In the case of Det'ns 38,
41, and 42, the amounts of ferric phosphate alone, calculated from
the permanganate titration values, are greater than the respective
amounts of ferric phosphate plus aluminium phosphate, as obtained
gravimetrically. In Det'n 37 the total weight of ferric phosphate

3 Owing to the impossibility of obtaining ammonium thiosulfate, the authors
used sodiiim thiosulfate in these investigations. This necessitates a little more
care in the final washing of the precipitate of aluminium phosphate than when
the ammonium salt is used, as any excess of the latter can be readily removed
during ignition.

Clarence A. Smith and Philip B. Hawk

187

and aluminium phosphate is but very little (1.3 mg.) larger than the
calculated weight of the ferric phosphate alone. These findings indi-
cate a failure of complete precipitation of either the iron or the
aluminium, or both. The exact reason for this failure was not
determined. It would seem probable that it was due to the addition
of an insufficient quantity of sodium phosphate, although the amounts
added were considerably larger than the amounts called for in the
method. The explanation for the high values noted in Det'ns 25
and 26 is not apparent.

TABLE I

Results obtained with the method of Steel {and Kahn), expressed in milligrams

Det'n

Material analyzed

Determined

Calculated

Theo-
retical

AIPO4
+ FeP04

43.1

FeP04

AIPO4

AI2O3

AI2O,

IS

Standard Solution.

43-1

18.0

20.0

16

Duplicate of I5-

43.8

43-8

18.3

20.0

25

Standard sol. + ferric chlorid sol.

310.7

247-9

62.8

26.3

20.0

26

Duplicate of 25.

316.2

247.9

68.3

28.5

20.0

27

Gastric Juice + stand, sol.; not ashed.

53-3

8.2

45-1

18.9

20.0

28

Duplicate of 27.

52.7

8.2

44-5

18.6

20.0

33

Gastric juice + stand, sol.; ashed.

24.8

14-3

10.5

4.6

10.

34

Duplicate of 33.

25.1

14-3

10.8

4.6

10.

37

Beef blood + stand, sol.

144-3

143-0

1-3

0.5

8.0

38

Duplicate of 37-

139-9

143-0

• • •

8.0

41

Beef blood. "Check."

118.7

132.3

• • •

0.0

42

Duplicate of 41.

II7-7

132.3

0.0

TABLE 2

Rest

ilts obtained with the method of Schm

milligrams

idt and Hoagh

md, expresse

d in

Determined

Calculated

Th

eoretical

Material analyzed

DO.

AI PO«

AI2O,

AI2O,

17

Standard Solution.

46-5

19-5

20.0

18

Duplicate of I7-

46.8

19.6

20.0

29

Standard sol. + ferric chlorid sol.

49.0

20.5

20.0

30

Duplicate of 29.

47.2

19-7

20.0

31

Gastric juice + stand, sol.; not ashed.

51-5

21.5

20.0

32

Duplicate of 31.

51-4

21.5

20.0

35

Gastric juice + stand, sol.; ashed.

25-3

10.6

10.

36

Duplicate of 35-

25-9

10.8

10.

39

Beef blood + stand, sol.

20.5

8.7

8.0

40

Duplicate of 39-

21.6

9.0

8.0

43

Beef blood. " Check."

i.o

0.4

0.0

44

Duplicate of 43-

0.4

0.2

0.0

i88 Sanitary Studies of Baking Powders

The method of Schmidt and Hoagland gave more satisfactory
results as may be seen by an examination of Table 2. There seems
to be a tendency f or the results to be slightly higher than the theo-
retical, which is particularly noticeable in Det'ns 31 and 32. These
determinations were made upon samples of gastric juice to which a
known amount of the Standard sol. of alum had been added, and, as
the material was not ashed previous to the analysis, there was more
or less organic matter present, which may explain the high values
obtained; although the results of Det'ns 35 and 36, which were car-
ried out upon ashed gastric juice to which a known amount of the
Standard alum sol. had been added, are nearly as high proportion-
ately as those from the unashed juice. The absolute error in Det'ns
35 and 36 is, however, much lower than the error in Det'ns 31
and 32.

The determinatlon in blood is not as accurate as is to be desired,
yet the values obtained in Det'ns 39, 40, 43, and 44, are in much
closer agreement with the theoretical than those obtained by the
method of Steel (and Kahn).

General conclusions. i. In our hands the method of Schmidt
and Hoagland proved more satisfactory than the method of Steel
(modified by Kahn), for the determination of aluminium in blood
and gastric juice, to which known amounts of aluminium had been
added.

2. It is not feasible to determine aluminium (by the Schmidt-
Hoagland method) in gastric juice, without first ashing the material.

SANITARY STUDIES OF BAKING POWDERS

6. Comment on the data in the preceding papers (2-5) on the

best available method for the quantitative determination

of aluminium in biological materials^

WILLIAM J. GIES

(Biochemical Laboratory of Columbia University, at the College of Physicians

and Surgeons, New York)

(Received for publication, May 31, 1916)

An examination of the data in the four preceding papers shows
that Howe, Curtman and Gross, and Smith and Hawk, agree in the
general conclusion that the Schmidt-Hoagland method is somewhat
more accurate and serviceable than the Steel method for the estima-
tion of aluminium in biological materials, and that the Steel method
gives low results. Steel finds that the Schmidt-Hoagland method
is more convenient but not more accurate than his own.

Curtman and Gross attribute the observed losses, by the Steel
method, to the decomposition of ferric phosphate in the precipitated
mixture of aluminium and ferric phosphates (page 169).

These findings suggest that possibly the results for aluminium,
in the earher experiments by SteeP and Kahn^ {with Steel' s
method), were low and that more aluminium was ahsorhed from
the aluminized hread, in those experiments, than the data reported
by Steel, and by Kahn, indicafed.'^

After the authors of the four preceding papers (2-5) had cor-
rected and returned to me the corresponding proofs, I forwarded to
each author a copy of the first paragraph above with a copy of the

1(2) Howe: Biochemical Bulletin, 1916, v, p. 158 j (3) Curtman and
Gross: Ibid., p. 165; (4) Steel: Ibid., p. 173; (S) Smith and Hawk: Ibid., p. 183.
2 Steel: Amer. Jour. Physiol., 1911, xxviii, p. 94-
' Kahn : Biochemical Bulletin, 191 i, i, p. 235.
4 Gies : Ibid., 1916, v, p. 152.

189

190 Sanitary Stiidies of Baking PiDwders

corrected proofs of the four preceding papers (2-5) ; and suggested
that such further comment as any of the authors might wish to pub-
hsh be forwarded to me for inclusion here. I wrote to each as
follows :

" I am sending you herewith a corrected copy of the proofs of four
papers on our aluminium research, pertaining to relative efficiency of
analytic methods, and, accordingly, make known to you the names of
your associates, in the first phase of the work, and the results obtained
by each. I am also forwarding to you a copy of the opening paragraph
of my comment, on the general outcome of this part of the work, to
appear in a note following your four papers in the Biochemical
Bulletin, Please read each paper critically and forward to me, at
once if possible, such further comment as you may wish to publish on
this subject, for inclusion, over your signature, in the body of my con-
cluding remarks in this relation. If you have nothing to add, please
let me know. A copy of this letter goes with this mail to each of your
associates."

In reply to these suggestions, Howe, and Hawk ( for Smith and
Hawk), stated that they had nothing to add. Further comment
was offered by Steel, and Curtman and Gross, as follows :^

DiscussiON BY Matthew Steel. Smith and Hawk, and Howe,
obtained results with Steel's modified A. O. A. C. method that were
slightly lower than the results they obtained with the Schmidt-Hoag-
land method, but their results do not depart farther from the theo-
retical than one might expect for two different analysts. Messrs.
Curtman and Gross, however, obtained results with Steel's method
that were low enough to require special discussion.

The low results obtained by these investigators may have been due
to the following causes :

1. The large quantity used for analysis. Experience has shown
that the most accurate results are obtained when the combined phos-
phates do not weigh much more than 100 mg., whereas Curtman and
Gross used three or four times this quantity.

2. The temp. of ignition may have been too high. The author
recommends the following technique : The moist filter paper containing
the precipitate should be carefully folded and put in a tared, fused,
silica crucible and placed, without cover, on an asbestos-centered wire-

5 The authors affected have not been made aware of the nature of this
comment.

William J. Gies

191

gauze over a very low flame until all the moisture is driveti off. The
crucible should then be placed in a large platinum dish and heated to
a high temp. over a Bunsen flame. Most of the filter paper is burned
off at this stage. The crucible should be finally heated to constant
weight over a free flame with a Meker burner. During the final igni-
tion the crucible should be nearly covered with a crucible lid.

2,. An insufficient qiiantity of ammonium chlorid in the sol. A
large quantity of ammonium chlorid would increase the solubility of
calcium phosphate and decrease the solubiHty of iron and aluminum
phosphates. I happened not to mention this fact in my original paper.
The ammonium chlorid was introduced as f ollows : After digesting the
organic matter with nitric and sulfuric acids, the mixture was boiled
nearly to dryness to drive off all the NO2 and the excess of sulfuric
acid. This procedure always resulted in the production of a sediment
which would not dissolve in water. It was found necessary to treat
this Sediment two or three times with hot hydrochloric acid to effect
complete Solution. This sediment always contained more or less iron,
as could be observed from the color of the sol. after boiling with
hydrochloric acid. In view of the fact that so much acid was used
in dissolving this sediment, it was deemed advisable to nearly neutralize
the portions taken for analysis with ammonium hydroxid prior to
starting with the A. O. A. C. method. When working with pure salt
Solutions, I have always added large quantities of a sat. ammonium
chlorid Solution.

I tested my modified A. O. A. C. method with regard to its effi-
ciency when large quantities of iron and aluminium are used. The
bulky precipitates were cumbersome to wash, but my results (sub-
mitted below) show that the method is reliable even when the com-
bined phosphates weigh as much as 400 milligrams.

Weight of
FeP04 + AIPO4

Weight of FePOi,

calculated from

the K]\In04 titra-

tion values

Weight of
AIPO4

Weight ofAlzOj

No. of
test

Calculated from
AlPOi found

Calculated from the

average results for

small amounts in

aqueous Solution

I
2

3

4

mg.
194.I

243-4
390.0
390.8

mg.

145.0

145-0

290.0

290.0

mg.

49-1

98.4

100.

100.8

mg.
20.52
41.36
41.84
42.16

mg.
20.96
41.92
41.92
41.92

These results, coupled with my previous findings, convince me
that the method is absolutely reliable, if followed with care.

192 Sanitary Studies of Baking P[Owders

DiscussioN BY L. J. CuRTMAN AND P. Gross. In the A.O.A.C.
method (unmodified by Steel) the weighed precipitate may be regarded
as consisting of ALOs-Fe^Og-A'PoOg. The precipitate is analyzed for
FcgOg and P^Og. The difference between the total weight of the
precipitate, and the sum of the FeoOs and PsOg separately determined,
will give the AUOs in the weighed precipitate regardless of whether
the AIPO4 or FePO^ was partially decomposed in the process of wash-
ing or ignition. Barring the errors inherent in the separate determina-
tions of the Fe^Og and PoOg, this method will give a correct value for
the AI0O3 in the precipitate.

Steel's method can be valid, from purely theoretical considerations,
only on the assumption that the PaOg in the weighed precipitate is just
sufificient to form the normal phosphates with the AI and Fe present ;
in other words, that the precipitate consists of a mixture of pure
FePO^ and AIPO4. The results given in our Tables 2 and 3 (pages
168-9) show conclusively, however, that the above assumption (tacitly
made by Steel), as to the composition of the precipitate, is unwar-
-ranted. It is quite conceivable that the error in Steel's method, as
noted in our Table 2, is unduly magnified by the relatively large
amounts of Fe and AI involved, and that with smaller quantities (such
as were used by Howe and by Steel) the error would be less apparent.
Experiment, only, can decide this point. We feel, however, that the
method of Steel, if reliable, should show a better agreement with the
theory than found. The addition of insufficient sodium phosphate
cannot be held responsible for the results in Table 2 (page 168), for
the reason that in these, as in all our determinations, special care was
taken to add a quantity of phosphate in excess of that required to
combine with all the AI and Fe present.

It is regretable that neither Howe nor Steel deemed it necessary to
standardize their aluminum sol's by methods other than those in which
the AI is precipitated as phosphate. Since the object of this investiga-
tion was the comparison of methods finally depending upon the pre-
cipitation of AI as phosphate, it would seem imperative that the stand-
ardization of the aluminum sol. be based on a principle other than one
used in the comparison of the methods. Equally regretable is the
failure of Howe to supply details as to the manner in which he
standardized his iron sol. This is a serious Omission in view of the
important röle which the iron plays in Steel's method.

An interesting confirmation of our results is to be found in some of

William J. Gies 193

the figures given by Smith and Hawk, in Table i (page 187). Com-
menting on these results, Smith and Hawk State : " In the case of
Det'ns 38, 41 and 42, the amounts of ferric phosphate alone, calculated
f rom the permanganate titration values, are greater than the respective
amounts of ferric phosphate plus aluminum phosphate, as obtained
gravimetrically. In Det'n 37 the total weight of ferric phosphate and
aluminum phosphate is but very little (1.3 mg.) larger than the cal-
culated weight of the ferric phosphate alone. These findings indicate
a failure of complete precipitation of either the iron or the aluminum,
or both. The exact reason for this failure was not determined."

These anomalous results of Smith and Hawk are in accord with
some of our findings. Thus (page 170) in our Table 4 (ox) the weight
of the FeP04, calculated from the " iron by titration " (463.9), exceeds
the weight of the sum of the AIPO^ and FePO^ found, giving a nega-
tive value for the weight of AIPO4. These results, considered in con-
junction with the values given in Tables 2 and 3 (pages 168-9), point
not to a failure to secure complete precipitation of the iron and alumi-
ntim or both, but rather to a decomposition of the ferric phosphate
either in washing or in igniting, or in both, as the most probable cause
of these irregularities.

After receiving the foregoing comment by Curtman and Gross,
I requested Dr. Howe to give me, for publication here, the " details
as to the manner in which he standardized his iron sol." His reply
is appended.

Addendum by Paul E. Howe. Approximately 2 gm. of iron
(piano wire) were dissolved in hydrochloric acid and this sol. diluted
to 2000 cc. with dist. water. Portions of this sol., approximately 10
gm., were weighed out and the iron determined according to the Zim-
merman-Rheinhardt method. The average of five determinations of
the iron sol. was 0.931 mg. for each gm. of sol. ; the greatest deviation
from the mean was o.oi mg.

The facts in the foregoing discussion do not require revision of
the general conclusion, stated in the opening paragraph of this
paper, that the Schmidt-Hoagland process is apparently somewhat
more accurate, and more convenient of execution, than any other
of the available methods for the quantitative determination of

194 Sanitary Studies of Baking P^owders

aluminium in biological materials, as these methods are currently con-
ducted. The disparity between the results reported by Steel, and by
Curtman and Gross, for Steel's method, may be due (as Steel sug-
gests) to differences in the degrees of heat applied during the
ignition of the precipitates.^

As soon as the general outcome of the studies published in the
four preceding papers (2-5) was apparent, the work on the second
and third phases of the research — on the absorption of aluminium
from aluminized bread, in men and dogs — was begun, and the
Schmidt-Hoagland method adopted thruout as the best of the avail-
able ones for the determination of aluminium in biological materials.
The reports on these parts of the investigation were completed, and
in my possession, before the corrected proofs of the four preceding
papers (2-5) went to the authors.

The succeeding paper, by Balls, throws further light on the ques-
tion of the accuracy of our "best" method. Balls' findings ^eem to
indicate that the Schmidt-Hoagland method may fail to recover the
füll amount of aluminium involved. There is special need for a
new method that would overcome all the objections against the best
of the processes that are now available for the estimation of alu-
minium in biological materials.

The remaining papers in this series — on the absorption of alu-
minium — will be published in the next issue of the Biochemical
Bulletin.

ß See the succeeding paper, by Balls, for further intimations regarding the
discordant influences of diflferent temperatures and periods of ignition.

SANITARY STUDIES OF BAKING POWDERS

7. A direct test of the degree of accuracy o£ the Schmidt-Hoag-
land method for the quantitative determination of

aluminium

ARNOLD K. BALLS

(Biochemical Laboratory of Columbia Umversity, at the College of Physicians

and Surgeons, New York)

(Received for publication, December i, 1915)

Prior to the inauguration of a study of the absorption of alu-
minium from aluminized foods, we tested directly the accuracy of
the Schmidt-Hoagland^ method for the determination of aluminium
— the method we expected to use in the investigation.^ This method
is conducted, in principle, as follows: The organic matter is de-
stroyed, silica dehydrated and removed, and ammonium phosphate
added to the aluminium-containing sol., which is acid with hydro-
chloric acid. The sol. is then neutralized with an excess of am-
monium thiosulfate, followed by the addition of ammonium acetate
and acetic acid. The aluminium is precipitated as the phosphate,
accompanied by large proportions of sulfur; while any iron that
may be present, being in the ferrous condition, remains in Solution.
The phosphate thus obtained is purified by re-precipitation accord-
ing to the original plan, and then is ignited to constant weight in a
silica dish.^ The advantages of this method, in the analysis of
biological materials, arise from the facts that iron is conveniently
excluded, that phosphates do not interfere, and that a direct deter-
mination of the aluminium is possible.

^ Schmidt and Hoagland : Jour. Biol. Chem., 1912, xi, p. 387.

2 Gies : Biochemical Bulletin, 1916, v, pp. 151 and 189.

3 Silica dishes, even of the " clear " variety, last but a short time, repeated
ignitions causing them to " scale off " on the exterior. In these tests ordinary
crucibles of German porcelain were used with entire satisfaction ; they withstood,
without loss of weight, the temp's of ignition to which the precipitates were
subjected.

195

196

Sanitary Studies of Baking Powders

In Order to ascertain whether correct results were obtainable by
this procedura, a sol. of a very pure potassium alum was prepared
and standardized. This sol. was found to be free from phosphate
and to contain a negligible trace of iron. The standardization of
the sol. was effected by precipitating the aluminium as hydroxid, in
the presence of ammonium chlorid, with a current of ammonia gas
and removing almost all the ammonia by boiling. The hydroxid
was filtered off, washed, re-dissolved in a little hydrochloric acid
sol., then re-precipitated as before, and finally ignited and weighed
as AI2O3. The analytic data are appended.

Volume of Solution taken.

CC,
50

25

Found.

mg.

194-3
97-5

Weight of AI2O3 .

Per CC.

mg.

3.89

3-90

The Schmidt-Hoagland method was then applied to portions of
the same sol., with the results summarized below:

Volume of Solution

AIPO4 precipi-
tated

AI2O3

Calculated

Per CC.

Loss

CC.

mg.

mg.

mg.

%

25

230.7

96.5

3-86

0.9

25

221.9

92.9

3-71

4.6

25

218.6

91-5

3-66

6.0

25

228.5

95-6

3-82

1-7

10

86.1

36.0

3-6o

7-4

10

87.3

36.S

3.65

6.2

10

88.6

37.1

3-7t

4.8

10

90.0

37-7

3-77

3-3

5

44-3

18.5

3-70

4.8

From these figures it is evident that the Schmidt-Hoagland
method may give results involving a loss of as much as 7 percent
of the available aluminium. The average error was about 4 per-
cent. In determinations of very small amounts of aluminium, say
less than 3 mg., a loss of 7 percent might fall within the ränge of
error of an ordinary analytical balance, and would be insignificant.

Altho the indicated error is relatively unimportant, in determi-
nations of small amounts of aluminium in biological materials, we
endeavored, nevertheless, to ascertain its cause.

'Arnold K. Balls 197

In the determinations referred to above, the precipitates were
ignited at high temp's, for several hours at a time, in an electric
muffle and cooled in the covered crucibles over sulfuric acid. It had
been observed that, in practically all cases, the ignited products were
hygroscopic. After exposure to the open air, for 10 min., a precipi-
tate weighing 86.3 mg. increased in weight to 89.1 mg. Re-ignition
reduced the weight of this mass to 86.1 mg. Aluminium phosphate
is not hygroscopic but aluminium oxid has that property. The
conditions of precipitation in the Schmidt-Hoagland method make
it extremely unlikely that oxid of aluminium is separated, at that
point, with the phosphate. It was inferred, therefore, that either
oxid, or a basic phosphate, was produced during the ignition. This
opinion was confirmed by the results of analysis of several of these
precipitates, which were found to contain less P2O5 than the
amounts required by the formula for the corresponding quantities
of ortho-phosphate.

The precipitates of AIPO4, as obtained by the Schmidt-Hoag-
land process, contain large proportions of sulfur, resulting from the
decomposition of ammonium thiosulfate by the acid in the sol.
This fact suggested that, during the ignition of the precipitate,
P2O5 is replaced by oxides of sulfur, and that the resultant
AUC 304)3 is converted into AUOg, at least to some degree. The
ignited precipitate of AIPO4 referred to above, weighing 86.1 mg.,
was mixed with about its own bulk of pure flowers-of-sulfur, and
re-ignited. The weight became constant in 6 hr., and the precipitate
was found to have lost 1.7 mg.

Similar losses, indicating an influence of associated sulfur, in
accord with the foregoing opinion, were obtained in three analogous
tests. (See contradictory data on page 198.)

After adding a small crystal of ammonium phosphate to the
ignited mass just referred to (84.4 mg.), moistening it with a drop
of water, and re-igniting, the precipitate increased in weight to
89.6 mg. A second ignited mass of AIPO4, weighing 87.6 mg., was
treated in a similar manner with ammonium phosphate. Its weight
increased to 90.8 mg., and the product was no longer hygroscopic.
Re-ignition with ammonium phosphate increased the weight of this
precipitate to 92.8 mg., in practical agreement with the standardiza-

198 Sanitary Studie s of Baking Powders

tion value (92.9 mg.). There was apparently a re-conversion of

AI2O3 to AIPO4.

From these findings it might be supposed that a correct result
could be obtained by adding ammonium phosphate to a precipitate
of AIPO4, before ignition and weighing, but experience has shown
that, unless repeated additions of very small amounts are made, this
cannot be accomplished ; f or, if a quantity of ammonium phosphate
sufficient to effect the change is added all at once, it is extremely
difficult to volatilize the excess of P2O5. In the cases cited above,
it required 12 and 15 hrs. of ignition, respectively, at nearly white
heat in the muffle, to remove the excess of P2O5, yet in neither case
was sufficient phosphate added the first time to convert all the oxid
to phosphate. In an attempt to make a single addition suffice, it
was found, after 17 hrs. of ignition, that at least 70 hrs. would be
required for complete removal of the excess of P2O5, obviously an
impossible condition for ordinary work.

In two repetitions of the foregoing tests — 6 and 7 in the accom-
panying Table (i) — conducted some time after the earlier ones, it
was found that ignition with sulfur did not produce a significant
loss in the weights of the ignited precipitates. The addition, how-
ever, of ammonium phosphate always caused perceptible increases
in the weights of such precipitates. There was evidently production
of oxid, or a modified phosphate, as a result of the first ignition,
independently of any influence of the sulfur. Ignition with ammo-
nium phosphate re-converted the resultant product, wholly or in
part, into normal phosphate.

It is impossible to say, under the circumstances, that the con-
version of phosphate into oxid was dependent, in any of the fore-
going tests, on the intermediate action of the associated sulfur. It
is possible that temperature differences, and other unknown factors,
were influential in effecting the observed variations in the results
with sulfur. The influence of impurities seems to have been
excluded.^

* AIPO4, made by the Schmidt-Hoagland method, and precipitated only once
(not re-precipitated as they direct), contained traces of potassium, chlorin and
Sulfate. When precipitated twice, it was free from these materials.

"Arnold K. Balls

199

That Sulfate was not produced as an intermediate product, in
any o£ the tests of the influence of sulfur, is suggested by the fact
that none of the ignited precipitates contained detectible quantities
of Sulfate; although it is possible that sulfate, after its production,
was completely converted to oxid.

The data pertaining to the foregoing tests are summarized
below :

TABLE I

Data pertaining to the effects, on the weights of AlPOt precipitates, of ignition

with sulfur er ammonium phosphate

A . Standardization value

B. Constant weight (method of

Schmidt-Hoagland)

C. Exposiire for 10 minutes to the

open air

D. Constant weight after ignition

with sulfur (compare with B)..

E. Constant weight after ignition

with ammonium phosphate
(compare with A)

F. Constant weight after a second

ignition with ammonium phos-
phate (compare with A)

I

2

3

4

5

6

232.3

232.3

92.9

92.9*

92.9

221.9

228.5

20.5

86.1*

87.6*

88.6

224.7

230.3

21.4

89.1*

88.7

90.6

221.3

227.9

19.5

84.4*

88.4

229.0

231. I

22.4

89.6*

90.8*

92.8*

90.9

92.9

90.0

91.3
89.9

93-0

* Referred to in the text.

The weight of " aluminium phosphate," obtained by the Schmidt-
Hoagland method, varies somewhat according to the temp. of igni-
tion. Precipitates, after ignition to constant weight at a low temp.
in an electric muffle, lost weight from exposure to a higher temp.,
and again became constant in weight at the new temp. level. In
this way, as many points of constant weight were obtained as there
were different *'levels" of temp. involved. It was observ^ed, how-
ever, that ignition at even comparatively low temp's failed to give
results for phosphate that were equivalent to our standardization
values. The losses in weight are illustrated by the data in Table 2.

The ignited precipitates, obtained by the Schmidt-Hoagland
method, are not, as claimed, the normal phosphate; but are either
basic phosphate, or normal phosphate contaminated with alumina.
Some of these precipitates, ignited to constant weight at white heat
in an electric muffle, contained approx. 2 percent less P2O5 than

200

Sanitary Studies of Baking Powders

TABLE 2

Data showing successive losses in weight of S chmidt-H oagland precipitates at

successive temperature-levels

I

11

Weight

of
A1P04

Period of
ignition
necessary to
obtain a
constant
mass

Loss calculated
from first con-
stant weight
of AIPO«

Weight

of
AIPO4

Period of
ignition
necessary to
obtain a
constant
mass

Loss calculated
from first con-
stant weight

of AIPO4

mg.

hr.

mg.

*

mg.

hr.

mg.

5«

I

2

Standardization
value, calcu-
lated to AIPO4*

Constant weight
at duU red heat.
(Compare with
I.)

232.3

224.9

224.1
222.7

• » ■ •

10

6
3

0.8
2.2

0.36
0.98

232.3

222.8

221.9
220.3

10

6
3

0.9
2.5

3

Constant weight
at bright red
heat

0.40
I.I2

4

Constant weight
at white heat . .

* Standardized by the method described on p. 196.

TABLE 3

Data pertaining to the composition of aluminium phosphate obtained, by the
S chmidt-H oagland method, from definite volumes of a Standard

aluminium Solution

I

II

III

IV

V

mg.

l'

mg.

5«

mg.

!«

mg-

i«

mg.

i

[ AI2O3

97.3
232.3
135.0

• • • ■

• • • <

41.85
58.15

97.3
232.3
135.0

41.85
58.15

97.3
232.3
135.0

....

....

41.85
58.15

97-3
232.3
135.0

41.85
58. IS

19.5
46.6
27.1

m

3 ,

1"

C -
.2 '

.a '

-H

CS

c

2 Calculated as

5 Equivalent am

; Theoretical
composition
of aluminium^
ortho-phos-
phate
(AIPO4)

AIPO4

ount of P2O6

'AI2O3 (com-
pare with

7)

P2O6 (com-
pare with
6)

41.8s
58.1S

c

3

a <

m

<u

3

1

5 Precipitate, by Schmidt-
Hoagland method

3 PsOs found in precipitate s
(compare with 3 and 4) . .

7 AI2O» found by A. O. A. C.
method in precipitate 5
(compare with i and 4) . .

216.1
120.8

95.3

55-90
44.10

215.6
121.8

93-8

56.44
43.56

220.3
123.5

96.8

56.06
43-94

222.7
126.1

96.6

56.60
43-40

44.8
25.3

19.5

• • • •

56.48

43-52

'Arnold K. Balls

201

that required for the equivalent amounts of A1P04.^ The data :n
Table 3 show that, if the quantities of aluminium oxid in such
precipitates are determined in the usual way^ (by subtracting the
P2O5 found from the total weight of AI2O3 plus P0O5), the results
for AI2O3 are low, indicating incomplete precipitation of aluminium
as phosphate. In view of the solubility of aluminium phosphate, as
shown by Carnot,^ such loss is quite possible, especially since the
precipitate, obtained by the Schmidt-Hoagland method, is washed
with an abundance of dist. water.

Precipitates of aluminium phosphate, prepared by the method
under investigation, were ignited, in coarsely granulär condition, in
an electric muffle to constant weights at different high-temp. levels.
They were then very finely pulverized in an agate mortar, and the
powders heated for 5 min. to dull redness, to expel atmospheric
moisture, and weighed. The powders were then re-ignited at the
corresponding temp's used previously to obtain constancy of mass,
and invariably lost weight. Illustrative data are given in Table 4.^

TABLE 4

Data pertaining to further losses in weight of ignited, granulär, precipitates of
AlPOi, after thorough pulverization, desiccation and re-ignition.

Individual test!

>

Nature of ignited pre-
cipitate

I

II

III

IV

V

mg.

mg.

mg.

mg.

mg.

I

Weight after grind-

ing and re-drying. .

372.4

216.0

223-3

220.3

215.7

2

Weight after ignition
subsequent to grind-

ing and re-drying . .

368. 5

214.0

222.4

219.6

214.9

3

Loss (i minus 2) . . . .

3-9

2.0

0.9

0.7

0.8

4

Approximate tem-

perature of ignition

White heat.

Bright red
heat.

Bright red
heat.

White heat.

White heat.

5 See Gmelin-Kraut : Handbuch der anorg. Chem., 1909 (vol. ii, pt. 2), p.
639, for comment on the great variety of basic phosphates.

6 Bull. 107, U. S. Dep't of Agric, Bur. of Chemistry, 1912, p. 177.
''Carnot: Compt. rend., 1881, xciii, p. 155.

8 These, and the previously mentioned, precipitates of AIPO, were prepared
from potassium alum (p. 196). AIPO4, made from AICI3 and^(NH0=HPO«,
washed free from Chlorides and dried to constant weight at 110° C, also very
readily lost weight during streng ignition.

202 Sanitary Studies of Baking Powders

The fact that the masses of phosphate could be ignited to con-
stant zveight, after a preliminary production of oxid, suggests that
a "surface layer" of the oxid protected the remaining phosphate
from further decomposition,

CoNCLUsiONS. The Schmidt-Hoagland method for the deter-
mination of aluminium gave results which involved a loss of as
much as 7 percent of the available aluminium, but which was
usually about 4 percent.

The losses appear to have been due, in the main, to the forma-
tion of AI2O3 from AIPO4, in the precipitate of the latter during
ignition, but also partly to the solubility of AIPO4 in the reagents
and washings.

The material, as finally weighed, is not wholly normal ortho-
phosphate of aluminium, but contains less phosphoric anhydrid than
does the same weight of ortho-phosphate.

The indicated error might invalidate the method for accurate
determinations of relatively large amounts of aluminium. For
comparatively small quantities, however, the error appears to be
negligible.

ASSOCIATIONS AND SOCIETIES

Proceedings and items of interest to biochemists

PAUL E. HOWE

PrEPARED CHIEFLY FROM REPORTS BY SECRETARIES

Contents

Page
I. Soc. Public Analysts and other Anal. Chemists, P. A. E. Richards and

E. R. Bolton, Secretaries 203

IL Biochemical Society, England, R. H. A. Plimmer, Secretary 206

IIL Papers (titles) and transactions of biochemical interest in the proceed-
ings of several societies 207

IV. Officers- and members-elect of various societies 213

L SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ANALYSTS
and Other Analytical Chemists

P, A. Ellis Richards and E. Richards Bolton, Secretaries

I. Ordlnary Meeting, ist March, 1916.^ Held at the Chem. Soc.
Rooms, Burlington House, London. Mr. George Embrey, Presi-
dent, in the Chair.

Messrs. Thomas John Hitchcock, and Nelson Trafalgar Foley
were elected members of the society. A certificate was read for
the first time in favour of Mr. Maurice S. Salamon. A certificate
was read for the second time in favour of Mr. Frank Theodore Alpe.

The papers abstracted below were read and discussed :

Manufacture of English chemical filter paper. E. J. Bevan,
F.I.C. and W. Bacon, B.Sc, F.I.C. The introduction dealt with the
manufacture of filter paper at the commencement of the war, with
an approximation of the total consumption yearly. The manufac-
ture of this paper, as carried out at the present time, is practically
in the hands of four firms and, from examinations that we have

iThe last preceding meeting was held 2d Feb., 1916. See Biochemical
Bulletin, 1916, v, p. 107.

203

204 Associations and Socict'ies

made from time to time, such papers can be looked upon as being
well up to the Standard of the German makes, and in certain respects,
superior. The papers are classified according to their physical char-
acteristics, in which the main question dealt with is that of bulk.
Experiments were illustrated showing the relation of this factor to
the rate of filtration and absorbency tests.

The chemical side of the question, with regard to choice of ma-
terial, was next dealt with, and showed the common impurities f ound
and the methods of removing same. Organic impurities were also
described and an actual determination of such an impurity as oil,
was outlined.

The application of filter paper for use in milk analyses and other
work was also described.

Pink colour on the surface of margarine. A. W. Knapp,
B.Sc, F. I.e. Beakers of margarine left about in the lab. often
become pink on the surface. This colour is due to mineral acid
vapours in the air of the lab. acting upon the azo-colour in the mar-
garine. As butters do not give the colour, it can be used as a sort-
ing test as follows. The filtered fat solidified in small beakers is
placed in a crystallising dish, on the bottom of which is a filter paper
soaked in strong hydrochloric acid. The dish is covered, and the
fats examined after 2 hr. A pink colour indicates that the sample is
probably margarine. The hydrochloric acid was found to diffuse ^
in. into the fat in lo days.

A rapid method for the estimation of fat in powders. S. B.
Phillips. The method was invented for the estimation of fat in
cocoa, and is applicable to any substance which can be finely divided.
The process consists of extracting the fat, from a known quantity
of the substance, with trichlorethylene, and of determining the fat
in an aliquot part of the sol. Such a quantity of the substance as is
likely to contain 1.5 to 3.5 gm. of fat, is weighed by difference into
a 6 oz., wide-mouthed, stoppered bottle (about 3.5 in. high to the
Shoulder), 100 cc. of solvent at room temp. is added from a pipette,
and the mixture thoroughly shaken. The filter used is made by
folding 2 filter papers (9 cm. diam.) together into the shape of a
Soxhlet thimble and tying them into a small perforated cork (hole
about 8 mm. ) which is then fixed on the end of a 20 cc. pipette. Filtra-

Society of Public Analysts 205

tion is hastened by pressure applied to the bottle by means of a tube
passed through a bung, which also carries the pipette. In this way
20 cc. of clear sol. is removed. The fat in it is determined after
evaporation of the solvent. The total weight of fat in the substance
taken is determined by multiplying by a factor, which varies accord-
ing to the weight of fat obtained. Thus, if 0.3 gm. is obtained, the
factor is 5.04; if 0.5 gm., 5.11 ; if 0.7 gm., 5.165.

A new colour reaction f or aloes. C. E. Stacy. A pink colour-
ation sufficiently delicate to detect one part of Barbadoes aloes in
10,000 is produced by the addition of a freshly-prepared sol. of
potassium ferricyanide to the cold aqueous sol. of the aloes, under
the conditions named. By the difTerence in colour of the reaction the
author claims to be able to distinguish certain different varieties of
aloes used in medicine, from each other and from commercial aloin
in med. preparations.

II. Ordinary Meeting, ßth April, 1916. Held at the Chem. Soc.
Rooms, Burlington House, London. Mr. George Embrey, Presi-
dent, in the Chair.

Mr. Frank Theodore Alpe was elected a member of the society.
A certificate was read for the second time in favour of Mr. Maurice
S. Salamon.

The papers abstracted below were read and discussed :

On the alkalimetric estimation of certain bivalent metals in
the form of tertiary phosphates, with especial reference to the
Volumetrie determination of cobalt and nickel. W. R. Schoeller,
Ph.D. and A. R. Powell. Stolba's alkalimetric method for the esti-
mation of phosphoric acid in magnesium ammonium phosphate is
also used for the determination of magnesium, and has been ex-
tended to that of zinc in zinc ammonium phosphate. The authors
have demonstrated the applicability of the process to cadmium, man-
ganese, and cobalt. On dissolving cobalt ammonium phosphate in a
measured volume of m/5 acid and titrating back the excess of the
latter, the intense colour of the sol. rendered most indicators useless.
Results obtained with cochineal were always 0.5-2 mg. high, due
to the action of cobalt on the indicator. By suspending cobalt am-
monium phosphate in water and adding n/5 acid until the precipi-
tate just disappeared, satisfactory results were obtained. It is shown

2o6 Associations and Societies

that the nickel in the filtrate from cobalt ammonium phosphate can
be titrated by Cyanide without f urther manipulations ; hence the phos-
phate process for separating nickel and cobalt allows a separate
Volumetrie estimation to be made of the two metals.

Note on a specimen of Russian oak. P. A. Ellis Richards,
F. I.e. The author gives the results of his examination of speci-
mens of oak that have been buried for many centuries in the sandy
bed of the river Moksha in Russia. The chemical analysis shows
that by the prolonged solvent action of water in the presence of a
soil rieh in iron, the sodium and potassium salts originally present
have almost entirely disappeared whilst the percentages of iron and
calcium Compounds have greatly increased. The oak itself still re-
tains its woody character although the colour has changed to a dark
grey or black.

The estimation of potassium in presence of other substances.

A. H. Bennett. The author describes a method based on a combina-

tion of the cobaltinitrite and Perchlorate processes, which can be suc-

cessfully used for the estimation of potassium in the presence of even

considerable quantities of other substances, ammonium salts being

the only substances of common occurrence capable of interfering

with the results. The method is particularly applicable in the case

of wine lees, argols, tartars, and in the liquors of tartaric acid

works, where potassium occurs with free tartaric acid, sulphuric and

phosphoric acids, iron, alumina and organic matter. Precautions to

be observed when phosphates of iron and aluminium are constituents

of the mixtures analysed are given, together with results obtained

by the use of the process under varying conditions.

Royal Dental Hospital, W. C, and

46 Stamford Brook Road, W., London.

II. THE BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY, ENGLAND

R. H. A. Flimmer, Secretary

March 20. Botany B'd'g, Imperial Coli, of Science and Tech.,
South Kensington, London, S. W. (5.30 P. M.)^

S. B. Schryver and (Miss) D. Haynes: Preparation and proper-
ties of plant pectins.

2 The last preceding meeting was held on February 14. See Biochemical
Bulletin, 1916, v, p. 109.

Proceedings of Biochemical Interest 207

S. B. Schryver and (Miss) M. Hewlett: Diphasic action of salts
on the cholate gel.

/. Jorgenscn: Differences between natural Chlorophyll and so-
called artificial Chlorophyll.

5". G. Paine: On the supposed origin of life in solutions of col-
loidal silica.

W. Brown: Demonstration of dialysis with differential collodion
membranes.

V. H. Blackman: Demonstration of an electric growth recorder.

Members elected: David Bums, Dorothy Haynes, Enid S.
Moore, Max Morse, H. Raistrick, G. Totani.

Officers elected: Hon. Treas., /. A. Gardner; Hon. See, R.
H. A. Plimmer; Ordinary members (new) of the Conimit., C
Crowther, F. G. Hopkins, 0. Rosenheim.

University College, London.

III. PAPERS (TITLES) AND TRANSACTIONS OF BIOCHEMICAL
INTEREST IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF SEVERAL SOCIETIES

Amer. Chem. Soc: Spring meeting, Urbana, 111.; Apr. 18-21.
General program. L. H. Smith: Composition of corn as affected
by 19 generations of seed selection. — G. H. A. Clowes: Influence
exerted by electrolytes on the equilibrium of emulsions, jellies and
living cells. — C. F. Burnam: Use of radium in the treatment of
Cancer.

Div. OF Agr. and Food Chem. Symposium: The chemist in
food control; Manufacturing standpoint. — C. S. Miner: Cattle foods.
— A. P. Bryant: Starch and glucose. — W. D. Bigelow: Canning. —
J. R. Powell: Gelatin. — Harry Snider: Flour. — W. W. Skinner:
Salt purification. — George Lloyd: Flavoring extracts. — W. M. Hos-
kins: General.

Food investigations. — Arnold Wahl: Preventing the staling of
bread by cooling in a predetermined atmosphere. — W. B. Smith:
Use of picric acid in meat sugar sol. — /. F. Snell: Analysis of maple
products. — L. M. Tolman and /. G. Riley: Study of Amer. beers to
show the effects on their composition of various raw materials used

2o8 Associations and Societies

in their production. — C. C. IVong and Katherine Blunt: Chinese pre-
served eggs. Pidan.

Agri. Chem. — H. A. Hiiston: Effects of plant foods upon the
amount and quality of substances used for foods, particularly fruits
and vegetables. — G. D. Beal and D. T. Englis: Studies on liquid ferti-
lizer. — H. J. Wichman: Detection of lime used as a neutralizer in
dairy products.

Div. OF BioLOGicAL Chem. — G. H. A. Clowes: Formation of
soap jellies and the process of blood coag. — W. D. Bancroft: So-
called caseinates; Action of rennin on casein. — G. H. A. Clowes:
Electrolyte antagonisms in physical and biol. Systems ; Anesthesia. —
C. L. Aisberg and H. E. VVoodward: Surface tension of saponin sol.
— A. Viehoever and C. O. Ewing: Relative sensitivity of some com-
mercial litmus papers. — R. S. Potter and R. S. Snyder: Aeration
method for total nitrogen determ. — B. S. Davisson: Titrimetric de-
term. of nitrite-N; Determ. of ammonia by aeration. — /. K. Phelps
and H. IV. Daudt: Investigation of the Kjeldahl method for determ.
nitrogen; New aeration apparatus. — M. H. Fischer: Physical and
biol. chem. of fat. — C. R. Smith: Mutarotation of gelatin and its
significance in gelation. — A. D. Hirschfcldcr: Effects of acids on the
swelling of certain colloids; Brain lipoid as a hemostatic. — R. A.
Hall and R. E. Morris: Pharmacol. action of citrates. — R. A. Hall
and E. D. Brown: Pate of methylene disalicylic acid and derivatives
in the body. — H. B. Lewis: Röle of cystin in the maintenance of
nitrogenous equilib. in dogs on a low protein diet. — H. B. Lewis and
W. G. Karr: Excretion of uric acid after Ingestion of sodium ben-
zoate in man. — W. G. Karr and H. B. Lewis: Comparative study of
the urea content of the blood and tissues of some vertebrates. — H.
A:. Shonle and H. H. Mitchell: Esterification of amino acids. — E. M,
K. Geiling and H. H. Mitchell: Feeding exper. on the nutritive value
of casein. — H. H. Mitchell and H. S. Grindley: Determ. of the
digestibility of the constituents of a mixed diet. — W. M. Clark and
H. A. Lubs: Hydrogen electropotentials of phthalate, phosphate, and
borate buffer mixtures. — E. J. Piper, C. J. Humphrey and S. F.
Acree: Chem. studies on the decomposition of red oak by Fomes
applanatus and of red spruce by Trametes pini var. abietis. — F. W.
Tanner: Bacterial metabolism of sulfur Compounds. — V. C. Myers:

Proceedings of Biochemical Interest 209

Colorimetric method of estim. amylolytic activity. — V. C. Myers and

A. R. Rose: Colorimetric determ. of glucose, sucrose, dextrin, and
starch in food stuffs. — /. N. Currie: Citric acid production of Asper-
gillus niger. — O. Kamm: Equation of fermentation of glucose by

B. coli communis. — R. Bengis and /4. R. Rose: Liberation of ammonia
f rom ammonium salts by B. coli communis. — A. Knudson and A. R.
Rose: Change in urinary constituents following the feeding of 5. coli
communis. — /. Rosenhloom: Ethereal sulfates of the urine in certain
chronic diseases. — /. Rosenhloom and Jejia Miltan: Ammonia con-
tent of human gastric juice. — E. W. Rockwood: Some auxoamylases.
— C. C. Fowler, M. Levine and S. B. More: Chemical and bacteriol.
study of some non-pathol. gastric residuums. — C. C. Fowler and
Z. Zentmire: Study of 80 samples of gastric residuums obtained
from apparently normal women. — A. W. Bosworth: Prep, of a syn-
thetic milk for use in Infant metabolism studies. — R. J. Anderson and
A. W. Bosworth: Utilization of inosite in the animal organism:
Effect of inosite upon the metabolism of man. — R. J. Anderson:
Utilization of inosite in the animal organism: In the dog. — G. O.
Higley: Analysis of urine as a part of the physical exam. of the
College man. — H. S. Grindley and H. C. Eckstein: Non-protein con-
stituents of foods and feeding stuffs. — /. C. Ross: Swine feeding
exper. to determ. the nutritive value of amino acids. — L. J. Desha:
Chem. methods in diagnosis : (I) Renal function; Contributions of
the chemist to the science and art of medicine. — /. H. Long and
F. Fenger: Reaction of the pancreas and other organs. — H. A.
Spoehr: Chem. aspect of photosynthesis in plants. — G. D. Buckner
and /. H. Kastle: Growth of isolated plant embryos.— i?. W.
Thatcher: Plant immuno-chem.— £. H. Walters: Presence and
origin of volatile fatty acids in so\h.—R. S. Pottcr and T. H. Ben-
ton: Organic phosphorus of soW.—R. S. Potter and R. S. Snyder:
Changes in the amino-acid nitrogen and " soluble non-protein nitro-
gen" in heated soils.— M. L. F oster: Distrib. of nitrogen in tgg
lecithin.— C. L. Aisberg and F. Brewster: Nitrogen distrib. in cer-
tain seeds.— ^. Viehoever and /. F. Clevinger: Oxalic acid and its
salts in foods and spices.— C. O. Johns and D. B. Jones: Some pro-
teins from the Jack bean, Canavalia ensiformis; Alcohol-soluble
protein from Kafir corn, Andropogon sorghum.—D. E. Worrall
and M. K. McNamara: Synthesis of tetracarbonimid.

2IO Associations and Societies

Special biochemical program for Home Economics. — E. E.
Butterfield: Diet in its relation to the treatment of diabetes. — Ruth
Wheeler: Carbohydrates as milk modifiers. — Louise Stanley: Occur-
rence of creatin in the urine of children. — Amy L. Daniels: Relation
of a diet high in calcium to the calcium content of the tissues. —
M. Louise Foster: Phospholipins, lecithin, cephalin, and similar sub-
stances. — Grace MacLeod: Digest of data on mineral substances
in the diet. — Alice F. Blood and Viola Anderson: Relation between
the total nitrogen and the non-protein nitrogen in certain fruits and
vegetables. — Emily C. Seaman: Report of a survey of the food con-
ditions at Sing Sing prison; The relation of biol. ehem. to problems
of the Community. — Edwin Lefevre: Bacteriol. study of hamburger
Steak. — R. D. Milner: Temp. of potatoes while cooking and a method
of measuring temp. during cooking and canning. — W. D. Bancwft:
Washing and cleaning ; Whipped cream, etc. ; Mayonnaise. — H. L.
Lang and C. F. Walton, Jr.: Cleaning silver by contact with alu-
minum in alkaline sol. — H. L. Lang and Ayma H. Whittelsey: Iron
rust and its removal — new methods. — Elizabeth W. Miller: Solu-
tion of antimony from some enameled cooking Utensils.

Div. Ind. Chem. and Chem. Eng. — H. A. Kohman: Use of
certain yeast nutrients in bread making.

Div. Org. Chem. — T. B. Johnson: Researches on pyrimidin-
nucleotides: new developments. — E. C. White, H. A. Lubs and
S. F. Acree: Phenolsulphonephthalein dyes and the quinone theory
of indicators. — H. A. Lewis and S. F. Acree: Use of viscose as a
dialysis membrane. — R. W. Schorger and D. F. Smith: Galactan of
Larix occidentalis. — B. H. Nicolet: Partial hydrogenation of cotton-
seed oil; Anomalies in the solidification points of fats. — C. S. Hud-
son and D. H. Brauns: Crystalline jß-methyl fructoside and its tet-
racetates. — C. S. Hudson and /. M. Johnson: A fourth crystalline
pentacetate of galactose and some related Compounds. — C. S. Hud-
son and /. K. Dale: Isomeric pentacetate of glucosamine and of
Chondrosamine. — C. S. Hudson and E. Yanovsky: Indirect measure-
ment of the rotatory powers of some of the alpha and beta forms of
the sugars by means of solubility measurements. — C. S. Hudson:
Numerical relations among the rotatory powers of the Compound
sugars.

Proceedings of Biocheinical Interest 211

Div. OF Water, Sewage and Sanitation. — F, IV. Bruck-
miller: Modification of ammonia distillation in water; Modification
of the Whipple method for direct nesslerization. — John Johnstofi:
Determ. of carbonic acid, combined and free, in water. — E. B.
PJielps and W. F. Wells: Numerical treatment of 5. coli values in
water analysis. — F. N. Crawford and Edw. Bartow: Composition
of the effluent air from an activated sludge tank.

Div. Pharm. Chem. — L. E. Sayre: Toxicity of the volatile
principles of coffee, with comments on coffee Substitutes. — /. H.
Long: Pancreatin tests of the pharmacopoeia. — H. T. Gräber: Ren-
nett: a note and a correction; Pepsin: a resume of tests. — R. A.
Hall, E. L. Newcomh and R. E. Morris: Relative toxicity of different
species of digitalis. — Norbert Mneller and Edw. Kremers: Appar-
ent and real ash content of digitalis. — H. F. Lewis and G. D. Beal:
Alkaloidal assay by immiscible solvents. — F. O. Taylor: Prep, and
characteristics of emetin; Unexpected reactions in pharmaceut. mix-
tures. — H. A. Langenhan and Edw. Kremers: Strength of fluid ex-
tracts. — Ruth E. Okey and G. D. Beal: Identification of emodin-
containing drugs. — E. Mallinckrodt, Jr.: Determination of small
amounts of water and alcohol in ether for anesthesia. — C. H. Briggs
and W. L. Irimn: Detection of minute quantities of unsaturated
hydrocarbons in liquid petrolatum.

Sectional MEETINGS. CHICAGO Sect., Fcb. i8. — H. G. Wells:
Chem. and metabolism of nucleic acids. Kansas City Sect., Nov.
13. — P. A. Shaffer: Fate of food protein in the animal body. Lex-
INGTON Sect., Mar. 9. — W. S. Anderson: Abderhalden test for
pregnancy. Louisiana Sect., Mar. ly.—W. L. Owen: Influence
of Phosphates on alcoholic ferm.— M. A. Schneller: Determ. of dia-
static power in wheat flour.— F. W. Liepsner: Discussion of by-
products of rice milling. Minn. Sect., Mar. 24.—/. /• Willaman:
Factors influencing the occurrence of hydrocyanic acid in plants.
Missouri Sect., Feb. 18.— C. W. Greene: New physiol. aspects of
fat metabolism. Nashville Sect., Feb. 18.— £. A. Ruddiman:
Estimation of extract of beef. N. Y. Sect., Apr. y.—W. H.
Nichols: University and industry; Discussion (among others) by
M. T. Bogert, P. A. Levene. Oregon Sect., Apr. i.—H. V.^ Tar-
tar: Sulfur and soil acidity, two important factors in the fertility of

212 Associations and Societies

soils. Rhode Island Sect., Mar. 23. — F. P. Gorham: Bacterlal
treatment of textile iibers. Rochester Sect.^ Mar. 20. — A. P.
Sy: Character, cost and adulteration of foods. St. Louis Sect.,
Mar. 6. — E. Bartow: Activated sludge. Syracuse Sect. — Mar.
24. — G. W. Cavanaugh: Problems in agric. ehem. Washing-
ton Sect.^ Mar. 9. — H. H. Curtis: Isolation of vitamines from
brewer's yeast. — A. Seidell: Chem. nature of vitamines.

Amer. Philosoph. See: Annual general meeting, Phila., Pa. ;
Apr. 13-15. — R. F. Bacon: Work of the Mellon Inst, in its relation
to the industries and to the universities. — /. W. Harshherger:
Origin and Vegetation of salt marsh pools. — W. J. V. Osterhout:
Dynamics of antagonism. — /. /. Stephenson: Goal formation. — G.
Scatchard and M. T. Bogert: New and very sensitive indicator for
alkalimetry and acidimetry. — W. J. Gies and collab. : Bacterio-
chem. studies of decay of the teeth. — M. E. Rehfuss: Human gastric
secretion. — F, W. Clarke: Inorganic constituents of marine inverte-
brates. — Raymond Pearl: Effects of continued administration of
certain poisons to the domestic fowl, v^ith special reference to the
progeny. ( Contributed by /. 5". Hephurn. )

Botan. See. Wash. C. O. Appleman: Relation of catalase and
oxidases to respiration in plants.

Harvey See. Supper at Sherry's in honor of W. H. Welch,
Apr. 29; Speakers, Abraham Jacohi, W. M. Polk, H. M. Biggs,
S. W. Lambert, W. B. James, Simon Flexner.

Nat'l Acad. Sciences i^ Annual meeting, Apr. 17-19. — S. J.
Meltzer: Permeability of endothelia. — /. 5. Kleiner and S. J.
Meltzer: Infi, of morphin upon the elim. of intraven. injected dex-
trose. — Simon Flexner: Finer mechanisms of protection from infec-
tion. — V. C. Vaughan: Protein poison. — C. R. Stockard: Heredity
transmission of defects resulting from alcoholism. — W. B. Cannon:
Recent observations on the activity of some glands of internal secre-
tion. — H. H. Donaldson: Water content of the nervous System. —
C. L. Aisberg: Relation of investigational work to the enforcement
of the Food-and-Drugs Act.

Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med. Mar. 15. — R. Ottenberg: Effect of
sodium citrate on blood coag. in hemophilia. — 5". /. Meltzer and

2 Abstracts of the proceedings : Science, 1916, xliii, p. 538.

Proceedings of Biocheniical Interest 213

John Alter: Effect of intraven. injections of magnesium sulfate upon
conductivity in the center of deglutition. — F. P. Underhill: (a) Con-
trol of acidosis and its relation to impaired sugar metabolism in
human diabetes; (b) Relationships between acidosis and creatine
elim. — G. M. Mackensie: Effect of exercise on blood sugar in depan-
creatized dogs. — G. H. A. Clowcs: Production of soap jellies, and
the physical conditions under which jelly formation takes place. April
ip. — A. F. Hess: Separation of serum into coagulatin and anticoagu-
lative fractions. — M. S. Fine and V. C. Myers: Comparative distrib.
of Urea, Creatinin, creatin and uric acid in blood and spinal fluid. —
/. 6". Kleiner and 5". /. Meltzer: Infi, of morphin upon the elim. of
intraven. injected dextrose. — Gary Eggleston: Antagonism between
atropin and certain central emetics. — H. R. Miller and Hans Zinsser:
Complement fixation in tuberculosis. — E. V. McCollmn, Nina Sim-
monds and Walter Pits: Distrib. of the fat-soluble A, the growth-
promoting substance of butter-fat in the naturally occurring food-
stuffs.

IV. OFFICERS- AND MEMBERS-ELECT OF VARIOUS SOCIETIES

Acad. Nat. Sciences. Pres., S. G. Dixon.

Amer. Assoc. Anat.* Pres., H. H. Donaldson; vice-p., C. M.
Jackson; sec, C. R. Stockard; members of exec. commit., E. R.
Clark, R. M. Strang.

Amer. Assoc. Univ. Prof's. Pres., /. H. Wigmore; vice-p.,
E.R.A. Seligman; sec, H. W. Tyler; treas., /. C. Rolfe.

Amer. Pharmaceut. Sog. Pres., F. J. Wulling.

Amer. See. of Zool. Pres., D. H. Tennent; vice-p., Chas.
Zeleny; sec, Caswell Grave.

Botan. See of Amer. Pres., R. A. Harper; vice-p., G. T.
Moore; sec, H. H. Bartlett; treas., Arthur Hollick; councillors,
David Fairchild, W. F. Ganong, B. E. Livingston.

Phi Lambda Upsilon. Pres., H. L. Fisher; vice-p., G. D. Beal;
sec, L. C. Johnson; treas., B. S. Hüll; registrar, S. C. Langdon;
editor-in-chief, G. E. Cullen.

Sigma Xi. Pres., C. S. Howe; sec, H. B. Ward; treas., /. F.
Kemp; ex. commit., /. McK. Cattell, J. Stieglitz, D. S. Kimhall, E.
Orton, C. E. McClung.

4 Proceedings in füll; Anatom. Record, 191S. x, p. 132.

214 'Associations and Societies

Soc. of Biol. Research, Univ. of Pittsb. Pres., W. C. White;
sec.-treas., W. IV. G. Maclachlan; addit. members of exec. Council,
W. W. Blair, R. E. Sheldon.

Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med. Pres., Jacques Loeb; vice-p., W. J.
des; sec.-treas., H. C. Jackson; addit. members exec. commit,
/. Auer, E. F. DuBois.

Washington Acad. of Sciences. Vice-p., R. H. True.

Amer. Philosoph. Soc. F. R. Lillie, D. T. MacDougal, L. B.
Mendel, E. F. Smith, W. L. Johannsen (Univ. Copenhagen), /. D.
van der Waals (Univ. Amsterdam).

Nat'l Acad. Sei. M. T. Bogert, Otto Folin, F. A. T. Levene,
A. G. Mayer, Raymond Pearl.

Nat'l Inst, of Social Sciences. L. F. Brown, Haven Emerson,
W. J. Gies.

Royal Swedish Acad. of Sei. Foreign members, E. B. Poulton,
R. Willstättef.

Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med. — Jan. 19 : H. Amoss, A. A. Epstein,
N. IV. Janney, F. W. Feabody, Louise Feirce. — Feb. 16: Casimir
Funk. — Mar. 15: Carl Ten Broeck, Edw. Uhlenhuth. — April 19
(none).

Zoolog. Soc. (London). Foreign member, Elie Metchnikoff.

Biochemical Laboratory,

Columbia School of Mediane.

BIOCHEMICAL NEWS, NOTES, AND COMMENT

BENJAMIN HOROWITZ,

Wm. J. Gies, Hattie L. Heft, Paul E. Howe and W. A. Perlzweig
Sectional Contributing Editors:

EDGAR G. MILLER, Jr., New York City,

W. N. Berg, Washington, D. C.
Arthur W. Dox, Arnes, Iowa.
Paul J. Hanzlik, Cleveland, O.
J. S. Hepburn, Philadelphia, Pa.
R. A. GoRTNER, St. Paul, Minn.
Max Kahn, Pittsburgh, Pa.

A. Bruce Macallum, Toronto, Can.
F. H. McCrudden, Boston, Mass.
H. A. Mattill, Berkeley, Cal.
P. H. Mitchell, Providence, R. I.
E. C. Schneider, Col. Springs, Col.
W. H. Welker, Chicago, 111.

Contents. (I). General: Necrology, 215; resolution in memory of R. A.
Witthaus, 216; resignation, 217; appointments, 217; lectures and addresses, 218;
prizes, 220; medal, 221; journalistic, 221; fellowships, 221; miscellaneous items,
223.

(II). War Notes: Personalia, 231; university items, 232; education, science,
politics, 232; food and nutrition, 235; trade war, 237; sanitation, disinfection,
238 ; preparedness, 243 ; chemical items, 243.

(III). Col. Univ. Biochem. Assoc: (i) General notes — prizes, 245; appoint-
ments, 24s ; associations and societies, 246 ; lectures and addresses, 247 ; expedi-
tion to Japan, 247; journalistic, 247; personalia, 247. (2) Proc. of the Assoc,
248. (3) Columbia Biochem. Dep't., 248.

I. GENERAL

Necrology. Bela Alexander, direc. Radiologie Inst., Budapest
Royal Hungarian Univ. — W. P. B olles, pro f. mater. med. and bot-
any,Mass. Coli, of Pharm. ( 1874-84) ; instr. mater. med. and therap.,
Harvard Med. Seh. ( i88o-'84).— £/fow Fulmer, Wash. State ehem. ;
sr. member and dean of faculty, Wash. State Coli. — H. C. Jones,
prof. physic. ehem., Johns Hopkins Univ. — Ivan Lewinstein, noted
chemist who developed the aniline industry in England. — Walter
Loeb, head ehem. dept, Rudolf Virchow Hosp., Berlin.— Foreign
papers announce the death of E. W. Pavlov, the Russian surgeon.
It is possible that the published announcements of the death of
/. P. Pavlov, the distinguished Russian physiologist, were due to

215

2i6 Biochemical News, Notes, and Comment

confusion of his name with that of his colleague. — F. Schenck, direc.
Physiol. Inst., Marburg.—/. F. ScJimid, chief Nat'l Public Health
Service, Switzerland. — V. A. Tichomirov, prof. pharm, and mater.
med., Moscow Univ., Russian Councillor. — Francis IVyatt (N. Y.
City), authority on fermentation and brewing.

Resolution in memory of R. A. Witthaus. The faculty of
the Cornell Univ. Med. Coli, has adopted the following memorial on
the death of Prof. Witthaus, one of its members, written by Drs.
Warren Coleman, W. G. Thompson and W. M. Polk:

In the death of Dr. R. A. Witthaus, emer. prof. of ehem. (Dec. 19,
1915), after a long illness, the med. fac. of Cornell Univ. sustained the
loss of one of its most famous men.

Dr. Witthaus was graduated from Columbia Univ. in 1867 and
received the A.M. degree in 1870. He continued his studies at the
Sorbonne and the Coli, of France. In 1875 he obtained the degree of
M.D. from the Univ. Med. Coli. (N. Y. Univ.). He occupied chairs
of ehem. and toxicol., ehem. and physiol., and ehem. and physics, in the
univ's of Vermont, Buffalo, and the Univ. Med. Coli. (N. Y. Univ.).
In 1898 he was called to the chair of ehem. and toxicol. in Cornell Univ.
Med. Coli, and occupied this position until his retirement, for age, in
191 1. Since 191 1, he had been emer. prof. of ehem. in Cornell Univ.
Med. Coli.

Dr. Witthaus's career was most notable perhaps for two circum-
stances : the eminence to which he rose and for the fact that the subject
in which he acquired fame was, in his youth, the plaything of a dilet-
tante. His interest in ehem. dated back to his College days, when he
converted a room in his father's stable into a lab. where he amused
himself with the study of ehem. problems. Reverses in fortune soon
compelled him to seek a livelihood in what had been his hobby.

In his riper years he was without a peer as a medico-legal expert.
His Services were often sought by the State in criminal trials involving
toxicol. questions and his testimony was always an important, if not
the leading factor, in the verdicts of the juries. He made what is prob-
ably the most complete catalog of reported cases of poisoning in
existence.

Dr. Witthaus was a prolific, as well as a convincing, writer. His
text books, " Essentials of Chem.," " General Med. Chem.," " Manual
of Chem. " and " Lab. Guide in Urine Anal, and Toxicol.," were much

General 2 1 7

in demand and passed through numerous editions. He contributed
articles on toxicol. subjects to Wood's " Handb. of the Med. Sciences,"
and edited "Witthaus and Becker's Med. Jurisprudence," the fourth
volume of which he wrote.

He was a Fellow of the Amer. Assoc. for the Adv. of Science, of
the N. Y. Acad. of Med. and other scientific bodies, including ehem.
societies in Paris and Berlin.

Dr. Witthaus was a man of broad cuhure and had many interests
outside of his profession. He was an ardent disciple of Izaak Walton.
His love of books amounted to a passion. xA.t several different periods
of his life he collected libraries of first and other rare editions, Dur-
ing his last years his chief interest lay in the collection and cataloging
of books and original manuscripts.

His fortune and med. library were bequeathed to the N, Y. Acad.
of Med.

Resignation. Dr. S. P. Sadtler, prof. of ehem., Phila. Seh.
of Pharm.

Appointments.^ Boston Floating Hosp. : Mr. A. W. Bos-
worth (N. Y. Agric. Exp. Sta.), biol. chemist

British Dyes, L'td. : Dr. /. C. Cain, chief chemist.

Cambridge Univ.: Dr. A. V. Hill (lect. in physiol. ehem.),
fellow of King's Coli.

Chicago: Dr. W. IV. Armstrong (head of food bureau), super-
vlsion field-of^icer (transfer).

Columbia Univ. : Dr. IV. A. Bastedo, assis. prof., clin. med.
(promotion) ; Dr. A. T. Martin, lect., pharmacol.; Dr. F. H. Pike,
assoc. prof., physiol. (promotion) ; Dr. W. M. Rhett, instr., phar-
macol.

General Educ. Board: Prof. R. M. Pearce, ch'r'n commit. to
study the condition of med. educ. in Brazil.

Harvard Med. Seh. : Dr. G. R. Minot, assis. in ehem.

N. Y. Conserv. Commis. : Mr. Francis Harper, to make detailed
study of the fishing waters of Oneida Co., N. Y., as a basis for
scientific working plans for fish stocking and protection.

N. D. Agric. Coli. : Prof. E. F. Ladd, dean of ehem. dep't, pres't.

Rutgers Coli. (New Brunswick, N. J.) : Dr. A. R. Moore (Bryn

iln this summary institutions from which appointments were made are
named in parentheses. See also page 245.

Biochemical News, Notes, and Comment

Mawr Coli), prof. of physiol. ; head of newly created dep't of
physiol.

Univ. of Berlin, Rudolf- Virchow Hosp. : Prof. Julius Wohlge-
muth (assis., Path. Inst), direc, Chem.-physiol. Div.

Univ. of Cal., Med. Seh. : Dr. T. B. Robertson, prof. of biochem. ;
head of newly created dep't of biochem. and pharmacol.

Univ. of Cambridge: Dr. S. W. Cole (Trinity Coli.), univ. lect.,
med. ehem.

Univ. of Chicago : Dr. E. 0. Jordan, ch'r'n, commit. on sanita-
tion and hygiene.

Utah Agric. Coli. : Dr. E. G. Peterson, pres't.

Lectures and addresses. Endowed. Harrington Lects., Univ.
of Buffalo Med. Seh. ; May 30, 31 : Dr. M. J. Rosenau, Anaphylaxis.

Harvard Med. Seh. ; Cutter Lect., Apr. 26 : Dr. Simon Flexner,
Finer adjustments of immunity reactions to recovery from infec-
tion.

Jerome Cochran Lect., Ala. Med. Assoc, Mobile; Apr. 18: Dr.
H. A. Kelly, Radium therapy in the treatment of disease.

Royal Inst'n: The day lectures after Easter included Prof. C.
S. Sherrington, Harvey and Pavlov ; Dr. T. M. Lozvry, Optical re-
search and ehem. progress ; Prof. W. H. Bragg, X-rays and crystals
(Tyndall lect.) ; Prof. C. G. Barkla, X-rays.

MiscELLANEOus. Amer. Chem. Soc, N. Y. Sect. Dr. P. A.
Levene was one of the Speakers in the formal discussion of "Univ.
and Industry," at a meeting in the Chem. Club, Apr. 7.

Annual Congress in Med. Educ, Chicago, Feb. 7: Prof. F. S.
Lee, Relation of the laboratory courses to the work of the clinical
years.

Chem. Soc. (London), Feb. 3: Dr. W. H. Bragg, Recent work
on X-rays and crystals, and its bearing on chemistry.

Coli, of the City of N. Y.; May 12: Dr. 7. P. Atkinson, Food
poisons.

Columbia Univ. ; Phi Lamhda Upsilon Lect., Apr. 5 : Dr. Virgil
Cohlentz, Influence of the war on our supply of drugs and medicinal
chemicals.

Franklin Inst.; May 17: Prof. T. W. Richards, Fundamental
properties of the Clements.

General 219

Marquette Univ., Mar. 16: Dr. A. S. Loevenhart, Biological
aspects of oxidation. — Apr. 19: Dr. W. J. Meek, Physiology of
adrenalin.

Menominee, Mich.; Apr. 10: Dr. V. C. Vaughan, Influence of
disease on civilization.

New England Assoc. of Chem. Teachers, 55th meeting; Har-
vard Univ., Feb. 12 : G. L. Wendt, Radium and its contribution to
chem.

N. Y. Acad. of Med. : Symposium on alcohol, Apr. 6. — Dr. F. G.
Benedict, Influence of alc. on man, with special reference to psy-
chol. effects. — Dr. R. C. Cahot, Relation of alc. to personal efficiency.
Discussion: By Drs. Haven Emerson, F. S. Lee, B. Sachs, C. R.
Stockard, C.-E. A. Winslow.

N. Y. Acad. of Sei.; Sect. of Biol., May 8: Dr. W. C. Clark,
Some phases of bona growth in the adult.

Racine Co. Med. Soc, 111. ; Mar. 30 : Dr. F. E. Simpson, Radium
and its uses in the treatment of cancer and other skin diseases.

School lunch problem: Second Inter-municipal conf. ; Boston,
Mass., May 5 and 6. — Sarah L. Arnold: Populär education as to
diet. — P. G. Stiles: Application of dietary Standards to the needs
of the normal child. — W. E. Brown: Public health and food educa-
tion.

Univ. of Neb., Sigma Xi; Feb. 12 : Dr. H. L. Shants, Water as
a factor in plant growth.

Univ. of Wis., Mar. 16: Dr. L. M. Warfield, Essentials of diag-
nosis in internal medicine.

Wash. Acad. of Sei. ; Mar. 23 : Dr. L. H. Baekeland, Chem. in
relation to war.— Dr. E. F. DuBois, Basal food requirement of
man. — Apr. 14 : Prof. Graham Lusk, Nutrition and food economics.
— Apr. 21: Dr. E. B. Forbes, Mineral metabolism of animals. —
Apr. 28 : Dr. Carl Voegtlin, Relation of vitamines to nutrition in
health and disease.

Washington Irving High Seh. (N. Y. City) ; Mar. 24: Dr. H.
W. Wiley, Relation of dental hygiene to public health.

Wellesley Coli.; Mar. 14: Dr. F. G. Benedict, Living without
food for 31 days.

220 Biochemical News, Notes, and Comment

Winnebago Co. Med. Soc, Rockford, 111.; Apr. ii: Dr. E. H.
Ochsner, Biochem. of topical applications.

Yale Univ., Sigma Xi; Mar. i : Prof. C. R. Stockard, Experi-
mental studies on the influence of alcohol in development and in-
heritance. — Mar. i8: Prof. J. McK. Cattell, Scientific research as
a profession.

Prizes. Adamachi prize, Roumanian Acad. of Sei. : Drs. A.
Babes and V. Busila (Bucharest), for a comprehensive report on
Pellagra in Roumania.

Ellen Richards Research Prize. The Naples Table Assoc.
for Promoting Lab. Research by Women announces the off er of an
8th prize of $i,ooo for the best thesis written by a woman, on a
scientific subject. This thesis must embody new observations and
new conclusions based on independent lab. research in biol. (in-
cluding psychol.), ehem. or phys. science. The theses ofTered must
be in the hands of the ch'r'n of the commit. on the prize, Dr. Lilian
Welsh, Goucher Coli., Balt., Md., before Feb. 25, ipiy. The title
page of each manuscript must bear an assumed name; and the writer
must send with her manuscript, a sealed envelope containing her
application blank and superscribed with her assumed name. The
B'd of Examiners, for 1916-17, are Drs. W. H. Howell (J. Hop-
kins Med. Seh.), E. P. Kohler (Harvard Univ.), and Henry Crew,
(Northw. Univ.). In April, 191 1, the prize was named the Ellen
Richards Research Prize, in recognition of the devoted service of
Mrs. Richards as ch'r'n of the commit. on the prize from its estab-
lishment in 1900.

Paris Acad. of Sei. Proposed prizes for 1917: Chem. — Jecker
PR. (10,000 f.), for work leading to progress in org. chem. ;
Cahours pr. (3,000 f.), for encouragement of young chemists who
have already published good work; Montyon pr. (2,500 f.), for
a means of rendering an art or calling less unhealthy; Houzeau pr.
(700 f.), to reward a promising young chemist; Berthelot pr.
(500 f.), for researches in chem. synthesis. Med. and surg. —
Montyon pr. (2,500 f.), for work most useful in the art of heal-
ing; Barbier pr. (2,000 f.), for a valuable discovery in surg., med.,
or pharmaceut. science, or in botany in relation to med. ; Breaut pr.
(100,000 f.), for a radical eure for Asiatic cholera. Physiol. —

General 221

MoNTYON PR. (750 f.), for work in exper. physiol.; Pourat pr.
(1,000 f.), for work 011 the relation between combined sugar and
protein of the blood.

Raymond Horton-Smith Prize (Cambridge) : Dr. E. Mel-
lanby, for a thesis on Cause and treatment of diarrhea and vomiting
in children.

The 20th Cent. Club, Detroit, Mich., offers three prizes of $20,
$10, and $5, resp.,for the best three stories, containing between
2,000 and 5,000 words, on the effects of cigaret smoking. The
stories will furnish material for a volume of anti-cigaret literature
for use in school libraries. All stories in competition must be sent
to the ch'r'n of the Anti-Cigaret Commit., Mrs. O. E. Angstman,
2yy Putnam Ave., Detroit, Mich., by June 15, 1916.

Medal. Nichols medal, Amer. Chem. Soc, N. Y. Sect. : Dr.
C. S. Hudson, in recognition of his work on carbohydrates.

Journalistic. New Journals. Jour. of Bacteriology: Official
organ, Soc. of Amer. Bacteriologists. Ed.-in-ch., C.-E. A. Whis-
low; man'g ed., A. P. Hitchens; with 22 "advis. editors" and 31
"abstr. editors." Bi-monthly: subscr. price, $5.00 per vol.

The Phila. Sect. of the Amer. Chem. Soc. is publishing a monthly
paper, " The Catalyst."

Soll Science: "Devoted to problems in soil physics, soll ehem.,
and soil biology." Ed.-in-ch., Dr. /. G. Lipman. Among the
group of internat. collab. are Drs. F. J. Alway, H. J. Conn, E. J.
Russell and Oswald Schreiner. Monthly: subscr. price, $3.00 per
vol.

Physiological Abstracts. See page 252.

Jour. Biol. Chem. Dr. C. /. West has been elected a member
of the b'd of ed. of the Jour. of Biol. Chem. His service began
with the Feb. issue.

Fellov^rships. Columbia Univ. : A gift of $2,400, from Mrs.
F. S. Coolidge, for the maintenance of research fellowships in med.

Harvard Med. Seh. : Drs. W. R. Ohler, E. F. Walsh, J. A.
Wentworth, fellows in chem.

The Mary Putnam Jacohi Fellowship has been awarded to Dr.
Mildred Clark (Johns Hopkins, 1914), who will use the feil, for re-
search in med. bacteriol. in Dr. T. C. Janeway's dep't at Johns
Hopkins Hosp.

222 Biochemical News, Notes, and Comment

Mellon Inst., Univ. of Pittsburgh, Indiist. fellowships in Opera-
tion Jan. I, 1916:

28: Fertilizer. — $2,500 a yr. for 3 yr. ; bonus, $5,000. Fel-
low, E. S. Bishop, M.A., Univ. of Neb. (Jan. 5, '14.)

34: Fatty oils. — $2,100 a yr. for 2 yr. Fellow, L. M. Liddle,
Ph.D., Yale. (July i, '14.)

48 : Bread. — $6,500 a yr. for 2 yr. ; bonus, $10,000. Fellows :
H. A. Kohman, Ph.D., Univ. of Kan., senior fellow; T. M. God-
frey, B.S., Univ. of Kan., and L. H. Ashe, B.S., Univ. of Pittsb.
(Mar. I, '15.)

49: Candy. — $1,800 for I yr. Fellow, C. A. Neusbaum, A.B.,
Wabash Coli. (July i, '15.)

51: Yeast. — $2,800 a yr. for 2 yr. Fellow, Ruth Glasgow,
M.S., Univ of 111.; scholar, T. A. Frazier, Univ. of Pittsb. (Sept.

1/15.)

55: Pharmaceutical PRODUCTS. — $13,000 for I yr. Fellows:

/. R. Watson, B.Sc, London Univ.; R. A. Dunphy, Ph.D., Univ.

of Pittsb. ; H. W. Huntley, M.A., Univ. of Wis. ; /. B. Churchill,

B.S., Harvard; R. N. Mullikin, Ph.D., Johns Hopk. ; E. P. Wight-

man, Ph.D., Johns Hopk.; R. W. Harris. M.S., Ohio State Univ.

(July7,'i5-)

56: SoAP. — $2,000 for I yr. Fellow, B. H. Nicolet, Ph.D.,

Yale. (June 26, '15.)

57 : Glue. — $1,800 for i yr. Fellow, R. C. Schuey, B.S., Univ.
of Kan. (July i, '15.)

63: Peas. — $1,200 for I yr. Fellow, E. H. Taylor, M.S.,
Univ. of 111. (Nov. I, '15.)

64: Petroleum. — $10,000 for i yr. ; bonus, $10,000. Fellows:
B. T. Brooks, Ph.D., Univ. of Gott., sr. fellow; /. W. Humphrey,
B.S., Univ. of Kan.; Harry Essex, Ph.D., Univ. of Gott.; D. F.
Smith, M.S., Univ. of Wis. (Sept. i, '15.)

65 : Compound fats. — $2,800 for i yr. Fellow, E. O. Rhodes,
M.S., Univ. of Kan.; scholar, R. L. Wharton, Univ. of Pittsb.
(Oct. I, '15.)

66: Glycero-phosphates. — $1,500 for i yr.; bonus, 10 percent
of Profits. Fellow, F. F. Rupert, Ph.D., Mass. Inst. Tech. (Oct.

I, '15.)

General 223

Miscellaneous items. Personalia. A demonstration of ad-
miration and affection was rendered to Prof. H. A. Hare, Apr. 11,
by the faculty and students of Jeff. Med. Coli, in commemoration
of his 25th anniv. as a member of the coli. fac. A reception, which
was attended by several hundred students, members of the fac, and
professional friends, was held in the hosp. amphitheater. Dr. F. X.
Der cum, pro f. of nerv, and ment. diseases, acted as ch'r'n, and a
beautiful bronze statue of Mercury, by Pigalle, was presented by
the students. The presentation address was made by Dr. /. C. Da
Costa, pro f. of clin. surg., and a memorable address of apprecia-
tion and acceptance was made by Dr. Hare.

The students in pharmacy, Univ. of Pittsb. Coli, of Pharm.,
recently gave a dinner in honor of Prof. /. A. Koch, on the 25th
anniv. of his appointment as dean of the College.

Dr. Mary E. Pennington is the only member of the Amer. Soc.
of Biol. Chemists to be included among the " advisory editors" of
the recently founded Jour. of Bacteriology.

Prof. EHe Metchnikoff has been seriously ill at the Inst. Pasteur.
Sir Ray Lankester wrote to Nature, under date of Feb. 26, that
Metchnikoff's med. attendants believed the pleurisy would soon dis-
appear and that the pulmonary congestion had already vanished.

Radium clinic. The Radium Inst'n of N. Y. has established
a weekly clinic at 205 West 70th St., and extends a general invita-
tion to med. men to be present any Saturday afternoon.

Alcohol and its EFFECTS. Dr. Kraepelin, an eminent in-
vestigator, has written an entirely new chapter on this subject.
Working with Instruments of precision that measure the rapidity of
transmission of nerve impulses and mental Operations, he found
that as small a quantity as Ya oz. oi alc. produced paralyzing influ-
ences that could be detected for hours afterwards by such Instru-
ments. These experiments demonstrated that it frequently takes a
man under the influence of alc. seven times as long to hear, feel,
taste, or receive an Impression of any sort as a normal person. Such
a man, called upon to act in an emergency — an engineer, for in-
stance, would require at least seven times as long to make up his
mind what he ought to do as a healthy person would require.
David Paulson: Med. Rev. of Rev., 1916, xxii, p. 284.

224 Biochemical News, Notes, and Comment

Work and alc. do not belong together, especially when work
demands wideawakeness, attention, exactness and endurance.
QuENSEL : The alc. question f rom a med. viewpoint — Studies in the
pathol. of alcoholism; Year Book, U. S. Brewer's Assoc, 1914,
p. 168.

Tribute to Favill. Members of the Nat. Dairy Council, repr.
every branch of that industry, held a memorial meeting at the Hotel
Sherman, Chicago, Feb. 2^, to pay tribute to their late pres't, Dr.
H. B. Favill.

Manitou waters. The El Paso Co. Med. Soc. (Tex.) has
appointed a commit. of ten, known as the Manitou Mineral- Waters
Commis. of the El Paso Med. Soc. This commit. intends to secure
the Services of a physiol. chemist, to thoroly test the effects of the
waters, and will provide a fully equipped lab. for exper. purposes.

" Phila. the HOME OF DENTiSTRY." An exhibition illustrating
the progress of dentistry was held at the Hotel Adelphia Roof
Garden, Phila., under the auspices of the dental manufacturers and
dealers of Phila., April 25 to 28, inclusive.

Dermatologists seek CHARTER. A petition for a charter was
filed, Mar. i, in the Common Pleas Court, of Phila., by Drs. /. F.
S Chamber g, J. M. Kolmer, David Riesman and A. D. Ferguson, for
the incorporation of a Dermatol. Research Lab., the object as stated
being " for the promotion of scientific research into the cause and
eure of skin diseases and every otherdiseaseof cognate character."

AciDOSis. Much remains to be learned regarding acidosis. The
presence of abnormal acids explains the origin of some forms, but
there are others that are in nowise understood. Are there abnormal
acids whose presence has not been detected? Are normal acids
f ormed in excess ? Are bases lost ? Does the kidney f ail to excrete
sufficient acid? These are a few of the questions at present un-
answered that must be answered before our knowledge of acidosis
can be considered in any way complete. John Howland and W.
McK. Marriott: Bull. Johns Hopk. Hosp., 1916, xxvii, p. 63.

Sprague Memor, Inst. : Officers and workers, 1915. Director,
H. G. Wells. Members, R. T. Woodyatt, Samuel Amberg, Lydia
M. DeWitt, E. A. Graham, H. F. Helmholz, Maud Slye, H. J.
Corper, E. J. Witzemann, Harriet F. Holmes. Voluntary investi-

General 225

gatorSj Frank Billings, Linton Gerdine, W. H. O. Hoffmann. Fel-
lows, W. B. McClure, L. W. Sauer, A. B. Schwartz, L. D. Minsk,
G. H. Coleman, Kaethe W. Dewey, H. B. Culver, Frank Nuzum.
'Assistants, R. M. Wilder, W. D. Sansum, J. H. Lewis, Hope Sher-
man, Mary B. Maver, Edith Farrar, G. L. Huber, G. T. Caldwell,
S. M. Cadwell, C. H, Christman, J. J. Moore.

LowEST BODY TEMP. The lowest recorded body temp. in a
human being who survived was 75° F. The patient was a man,
aged 34, who, while intoxicated, had been exposed to a temp. of 34°
F. over night. This case was reported by Reineke {Deut. Archiv,
für klin. Med., xvi, 15). A temp. as low as 71.6° F. is said to have
been observed in one case. The authority in the latter case, however,
does not seem entirely dependable. Answer to query: Jour.
Amer. Med. Assoc., 1916, Ixvi, p. 978.

Apparatus. Long experience has taught that however much
we may owe to the great minds that evolve basic generalizations and
hypotheses, real progress in science ultimately rests on the establish-
ment of facts. Our reasoning faculties, by themselves, are unable
to cope with the complexity of the phys. world, and are sure to stray
from reality unless they are continually guided by Observation and
experiment. Galileo with his exper. methods contributed more to
science than did all the generations preceding him. . . . The greater
the advancement in any brauch of science, the greater must he the
development of the apparatus that is employed. The two are neces-
sarily interdependent. The Instrument is to a great extent an index
of the State of the science. The greater the precision with which we
can make our observations and measurements, the surer we are of
keeping on the right path in our Interpretation of the phenomena
concerned. Anthony Zeleny: Science, 1916, xliii, p. 185.

Methods. Preparation of collodion membranes. Collodion
thimbles of regularly increasing degree of permeability may be
prepared by soaking air-dried thimbles in alcohol-water mixtures
of increasing alc. content. The diffusive capacity of any substance
through collodion may be specified in terms of the alc. strength re-
quired to produce the membrane which just prevents its passage.
This may be termed the "alcohol index" of the substance. W.
Brown : Bio ehem. Jour., 191 5, ix, p. 617.

226 Biochemical News, Notes, and Comment

Comparison of methods for the determination of casein in milk.
Though the official nitrogen method is the Standard of accuracy for
the determ. of casein in milk, the results show that, for all ordinary
work, the Hart method with electric centrifuge is dependable, check-
ing very closely the official method, and is far superior to the Volu-
metrie method. As to the time required by the three methods, the
official is longest in total time, with about the same time required in
personal attention as the Van Slyke method. The Hart method re-
quires, however, but a small fractionof the time of the other methods
and has the added advantage of requiring neither exactly Standard
Solutions nor final calculation of results. C. B. Hersey : Jour. Ind.
and Eng. Chem., 1916, viii, p. 336.

Use of paper pulp in quantitative analysis. The application of
the pulp filter to the quant. estim. of barium and sulfuric acid as
barium sulfate, of silver and hydrochloric acid as silver chlorid, and
of potassium and ammonium as chlorplatinates, has been shown to
give results as accurate as those obtained with Standard filter paper.
It is convenient and easy to handle, when applied to the quant.
determ. of the above acids and bases, and enables one to save con-
siderable time and labor. S. L. Jodidi and H. E. Kellogg: Jour.
Ind. and Eng. Chem., 1916, viii, p. 319. (See also Biochem. Bull.,
1916, V, p. 87.)

Electrica! treatment of water. The gases produced (by electr.
action on water) kill a large number of microorganisms, but to kill
them all the conditions of the exper. must be such as to bring all the
organisms into contact with the gas. I should think it possible that
some scheme might be devised whereby efficient treatment could be
imparted without relying upon the action of Sedimentation. This
settling action is undoubtedly an important factor to be dealt with,
and if it is feasible to combine the effects of the gases and the
effects of Sedimentation into a working scheme, the results could be
absolutely relied upon. The action of electr. pure and simple is
useless. T. A. Starkey: Amer. Med., 1916, xxii, p. 187.

Manufacture of gasoline and bencene-toluene from petroleum
and other hydrocarhons. The large-scale exper. have fully con-
firmed the lab. exper. and established the fact that the conversion into
gasoline can be even more satisfactorily accomplished in a tube of

General 227

greatly enlarged diam. and increased length than in the electr.
heated i)^ in. tube. The conditions favorable for gasoline produc.
are shown to be the same in the larger tubes as in the small tube,
namely, a temp. of approx, 500 to 575 °C. and a pressure of 250 to
300 Ib. per sq. in. The gasoHne process, therefore, can justly be
considered as a success so f ar as conversion in the large tubes is con-
cerned. The adaptation of the unit to refinery conditions is a matter
of median, detail involving no inherent difficuUies. In view of the
continuous Operation of the benzene-toluene process by the Aetna
Explosives Co., over a period of nearly one yr., as well as the results
of the large-scale Operations, there can exist little doubt as to the
success of the benzene-toluene process on a commer. operative scale.
It has been proved that benzene and toluene can be produced in large
quantities by this process. These products have been shown to be
capable of being worked into the nitro-compounds desired for
making explosives. Furthermore, these nitro-compounds, or the
derivatives thereof, are equally suitable for use in producing dye-
stufTs.

The Claims which were made for the process at the outset have
thus been fully verified by commer. results, and its future is depend-
ent alone upon the perfection of the mechan. apparatus and the con-
sequent reduction in labor and operating costs. W. F. Rittman,
C. B. Button and E. W. Dean : Jonr. Ind. and Eng. Chem., 19 16,
viii, p. 361.

Unsuspected SYPHILIS. Mauy years ago Sir William Osler
used to emphasize the importance of obscure syphilis and admon-
ished his students in no uncertain terms to remember the frequency
and diversity of the manifestations of this protean disease; and only
the other day his successor in Balt., Dr. L. F. Barker, speaking
before the N. Y. Acad. of Med., said: "The more my experience
grows, the more I am inclined to take as a diagnostic aphorism,
* When in doubt have a Wassermann test made ; when not in doubt
still have a Wassermann test made.'" Editorial: Amer. Med.,
1916, xxii, p. 152.

Eile pigment metabolism. The curve of bile pigm. secre-
tion can be depressed below normal by a meat diet, and can be
raised much above normal by a diet rieh in carbohydrates. . . .

228 Biochemical News, Notes, and Comment

This observ. must dispose of the commonly accepted belief concern-
ing the origin of bile pigm. ; namely, that they can be formed only
by the breaking down of red blood cells. Can one assume, that a
carbohy. diet will cause the dissolution of a small army of red bl.-
cells, to explain the fact that the output of bile pigm. may be almost
doubled in a sharp transition from a meat diet to a diet rieh in
carbohy.? C. W. Hooper and G. H. Whipple: Amer. Jour. of
PhysioL, 1916, xl, p. 349.

CoNsciENCE OF THE EXPERT, For two Cent, thcre has been
growing up in the exper. lab. an ideal of exactness and a reverence
for tested fact. . . . The standing of a univ. as a research inst'n is
determined by its lab's. The buildings of a modern med. seh. con-
sist almost entirely of lab's. Nowadays the first thing wise men do
when they are face-to-face with a grave problem, relating, say, to
food values, or Ventilation, or juvenile delinquency, or whether ani-
mals reason, or the harmfulness of adulterants, is to equip a research
lab. for working it out. We have realized that the old-fashioned
reflection and discussion are but a poor method of finding truth.
The spirit of the lab. is a sense of the all-importance of fact, a
nervousness as to error, a willingness to take infinite pains in
measuring and verifying. Formerly only chemists and engineers
went out into their life-work with this spirit. But of late, lab's have
so multiplied in the univ's, in the research bureaus of gov't, and in
the big indust. concerns, that you will find this spirit in many groups
of social servants, such as physicians, psychiatrists, criminologists,
statisticians, sanitarians, charity agents, social workers, factory in-
spectors and probation officers. The lawyers and the preachers have
scarcely caught it, but in the school of journalism, with " Accuracy
Always " a wall motto and a daily prayer, the students are getting
it. Whether the conditions of newspaper employment will permit
them to act upon it remains to be seen. . . . E. A. Ross: School and
Society, 1916, iii, p. 522.

New INSTITUTES. Indiis. Research Inst. The Univ. of Wash.
has established a Bur. of I