FORMATION OF DEFENSIVE FERMENTS 



possible. Different observers (Lit. 4, 8, 10, u, 

 12, 16, 17, 18, 19), who have instituted experiments 

 on metabolism subsequent to parenteral introduction 

 of proteins, have suggested that decomposition by 

 means of ferments takes place outside the intestines. 

 This is most clearly stated by Heilner. This 

 suggestion, however, was only proved by the 

 direct demonstration of the ferments by means of the 

 experiments and methods we have described. 



The positive knowledge that it is possible to induce 

 a splitting activity in the blood plasma of animals, 

 the plasma of which is otherwise unable to decompose 

 albuminous substances, by means of parenteral injec- 

 tions of these substances, led of itself to the problem 

 whether analogous phenomena appear when other 

 substances, which are out of harmony with the body 

 and the plasma, but do not belong to the albumens, 

 are used in such injections. We began with the 

 parenteral introduction of disharmonious forms of 

 sugar. In the first place it was ascertained that the 

 plasma or serum of dogs is unable to split up cane 

 sugar. If blood serum, or blood plasma, of a dog 

 be brought into a solution of cane sugar, it can 

 easily be demonstrated, by means of analytical 

 methods, that the cane sugfar does not undergo 



j r*> 



any alteration. Certainly no decomposition takes 

 place. The contents of the blood plasma are not 

 increased in respect of reduced substances. If, 



