458 W. M. SMALLWOOD. 



The total nitrogen in 3 grams of starved dry muscle was .4474. 



Per Cent. 



Ammonia-nitrogen 3.1 



Melanin-nitrogen 1.8 



Amino-nitrogen 63.9 



Non-amino-nitrogen 4.9 



Nitrogen of bases 26.9 



, 100.6 



The proportions in the normal muscle are as follows: Total 

 nitrogen in 3 grams of dry muscle .3403. 



Per Cent. 



Ammonia-nitrogen 7- 2 



Melanin-nitrogen 1.9 



Amino-nitrogen 55.6 



Non-amino nitrogen 9.4 



Nitrogen 1 of bases 26.0 



IOO.I 



A comparison of this analysis with that of the starved muscle 

 reveals the interesting fact that the general relation of the several 

 nitrogen compounds found in the muscle is not materially 

 changed. A chemical analysis, therefore, does not help us in 

 explaining the sequence of events which results in the breaking 

 down of the muscle cell. 



The histological study of the muscle shows the order in which 

 the parts of the cells disappear, although no satisfactory prepara- 

 tions were obtained from material fixed in the several solutions 

 mentioned above. The semi-fluid of starved muscle stained 

 with Wright's blood stain did however give a fine differentiation 

 of the muscle fibers and their cross striae. 



It has been known for some time that the sarcoplasm was 

 broken down in extreme starvation, but I am not familiar with 

 any observations that determine the order in which the change 

 occurs. The untouched microphotographs, Fig. i, shows that 

 the cross markings in the sarcoplasm are the first structures to 

 undergo any change. These become faint and less compact at 

 the end of the muscle cell while toward the middle of this same 

 cell they are unchanged. This is clearly indicated in the above 

 figure where a normal fiber and one that is breaking down lie 

 side by side. The muscle nuclei of each fiber are of equal size 

 and staining reaction. 



1 This is the nitrogen precipitated by phosphotungstic acid. 



