KozLowsKi : Primary Synthesis of Proteids 43 



based upon facts concerning- the feeding of fungi. By studying 

 experiments (especially those of Pasteur and Nageli) to determine 

 whether compounds with or without nitrogen can feed fungi Low 

 found that only the compounds containing the group CH.OH are 

 able to produce proteids. 



He supposes then, that this reaction is performed in three 

 phases : 



The first consists in the production of asparagin aldehyde from 

 the form aldehyde 



F 



Form aldehyde, Asparagin aldehyde. 



4CH.OPI + NH3 = NH^-CH.COH -f 2H,0 



CH^.COH 



The second is the condensation of several molecules of as- 

 paragin aldehyde into a body now unknown. 



M CH.COH I = C1A7NA + 2HP 



Low maintains that this body is produced by the destruction 

 of two or four aldehydic groups (COH), 



At last the body thus obtained gives protein by the action of 



hydrogen and H^S derived from decomposed water and reduced' 

 sulphuric acid : 



The simplest 

 formula of protein. 



6 C,,H,.N30, + 6 H, + H,S = C,H,,,N,,SO,, + H.O. 



This hypothesis was strongly criticised by E. Schultz.* Among 

 his objections one deserves special notice, namely, that in scientific 

 explanation such indefinite factors as the "vibrations of livin*? 

 molecules of protein" must be carefully avoided — a factor to 

 which Low has taken recourse again in his new hypothesis, con- 

 cerning the formation of sugar, f 



It would be useless to go into detailed criticism of this hypoth- 



*Ueber die Eiweissumsatz in Pflanzenorganismus— Landwirtschaftliche Jahr- 

 bucher, 1885 ; Just's Berichte, 1888. The hypothesis proposed by this author to sup- 

 ply the place of that of Low seems to me, indeed, more remote from probability than 

 the criticised one. 



t Berichte deutschen chem. Gesellsch., 22 : 482. 



