308 PROCEEDINGS : ( riEMICAL SOCIETY 



solid was free of vitamine, whereas the solid adsorbent retained all 

 that was originally present in the yeast solution. The solid combina- 

 tion of fuller's earth and vitamine appears to be stable and shows un- 

 impaired vitamine activity even after several months. Since the in- 

 organic solid adsorbent is an inert substance, from the standpoint of its 

 action on the organism, the combination serves as a convenient source 

 of vitamine for nutritional experiments and possibly as a therapeutic 

 agent in the treatment of beri-beri and other nutritional deficiency 

 diseases. Experiments upon the separation of vitamine from its solid 

 combination with fuller's earth are under way and a crystalline product 

 possessing the vitamine action has already been prepared. (Author's 

 abstract.) 



R. R. Williams, Bureau of Chemistry: The chemical nature of the 

 vitamines. 



Alpha-hydroxypyridine exists in three isomeric forms. Two of 

 these forms can be isolated as needle and prism crystals respectively, 

 while the third enolic form is present only in the metallic salts of the 

 compound. Prism crystals may be converted into needles by dry 

 heat. The needles on standing in the air at ordinary temperatures 

 are transformed again into prisms. Water solutions of the needles 

 produce rapid cures of avian beri-beri when administered within five 

 or six days after the solution is made. The prism crystals have no 

 curative power. The enolic or metallic salt form probably possesses 

 no therapeutic value. A similar isomerism and physiological effect 

 appears to be common to all hydroxypyridines, suggesting that the 

 natural vitamines possess a similar chemical structure. (Author's 

 abstract.) 



The 259th meeting (special) of the society was held in the Chemical 

 Lecture Hall of George Washington Medical School on March 21, 

 1916. The speaker of the evening, John Uri Lloyd, of Cincinnati, 

 presented a Practical demonstration of some of the principles of colloidal 

 chemistry. An experimental demonstration was given of the selective 

 absorption of alkaloids by what is now known as Lloyd's reagent, a 

 selected fuller's earth (hydrated aluminium silicate) especially treated 

 to give extreme fineness of grain and great absorptive power. The 

 absorption is carried out in acid solution and presents a distinct ad- 

 vance in the technique of alkaloid separation and manufacture. The 

 action is extremely rapid and applies to practically all alkaloids. How- 

 ever, though the application of the reagent as an absorbent for alka- 

 loids used in the therapeutics looks promising, its application as a 

 remedy in alkaloid poisoning has so far been unsuccessful, owing to 

 the liberation of the alkaloid in the alkaline parts of the alimentary 

 tract. A considerable number of slides were presented showing micro- 

 graphs of the reagent and its absorption compounds. 



E. C. McKelvy, Secretary. 



