220 SCIENCE PROGRESS. 



substances, such as haemoglobin, nuclein, etc. Futhermore, 

 the term " albuminoid " is indifferently utilised to connote 

 both that group of compounds centred round the albumins, 

 and also that associated with gelatin or keratin. The 

 incongruity of this system is obvious, and any attempt to 

 replace it with one more compatible with modern require- 

 ments can only be desirable. 



A. Wroblewski 1 has recently published a modification 

 of Drechsel's classification, which is adopted in the following 

 pages. The term protein is employed by him in widest 

 connotation ; he divides proteins into three classes — (i.) 

 "Eiweissstoffe," (ii.) "Zusammengesetzte Eiweissstoffe," and 

 (iii.) " Eiweissahnliche Substanzen ". Although these di- 

 visional names may suffice in Germany, it is impossible to 

 effect a concise translation that is satisfactory. It is hence 

 suggested that " Eiweissstoffe " be rendered as "albumi- 

 noids," which plan has at least the virtue of rational 

 application, and "Zusammengesetzte Eiweissstoffe" as "pro- 

 teids," in which sense the word was employed by its 

 inventor, F. Hoppe-Seyler. But no expression is then 

 left for " Eiweissahnliche Substanzen " ; this class is only 

 a refuse-heap into which compounds are swept that will 

 not fit into the other two, and to find a suitable expression 

 is difficult : it is indeed impossible to find any to which 

 many objections could not be made. But since for practical 

 purposes some collective term is necessary, it is suggested 

 that, since gelatin is a prominent member, the word 

 "gelatoids" be provisionally used; there is at least a pre- 

 cedent in the designation " alkaloid ". 



Wroblewski excludes protamines from proteins, whereas 

 A. Kossel includes them, and inserts proteoses and pep- 

 tones, which Neumeister has eliminated. 



The reserve-proteins of hypnotic' 2 seeds are as a rule 

 chiefly in the form of aleurone-grains. This term is used 

 very widely to signify all proteinic granules that are neither 

 living nor hypnotic. The grains are either more or less 



1 Ber. d. detit. ch. Ges., xxx. (1897-8), p. 3045. 



2 For the application of this term, see Science Progress, N.S., vol. I, 

 No. 5, p. 605. 



