268 Transactions. 



of fish, representing 37*45 grin, fresh material, was extracted with chloro- 

 form and with alcohol; the residue weighed 8*412 grm. ; the nitrogen 

 percentage of this was 1256, which equals 2*807 per cent, of protein- 

 nitrogen in the moist fish, or 17*54 per cent, protein. The total nitrogen 

 of the moist frostfish was found to be 3*6 per cent. Deducting the pro- 

 tein-nitrogen (2*8 per cent.) we obtain 0*8 per cent, of nitrogen belonging 

 to non-protein material. As already stated, the ether-soluble ' fat 

 contains 1 per cent., but even after deducting this value (0*08) we have 

 0*72 per cent, nitrogen to account for, and, as will be mentioned later, 

 this nitrogen was partly present in a special crystalline substance soluble 

 in alcohol. 



Glycogen could not be detected in the samples of frostfish examined ; 

 thus 30 grm. was treated by Pfliiger's method without positive result. 



The main points brought out by the analysis are shown in the fol- 

 lowing table : — 



Table III. — Composition of Frostfish. (Flesh of "sides" or dorsal 



portion only.) 



Water, per cent. 



Solids, per cent. 



Fat, per cent. 



Total nitrogen, per cent. 



Protein, per cent. 



Glycogen 



Alcoholic extract, per cent. 



Ash, per cent. 



The data obtained from analysis of the ventral part of the fish are 

 as follows : — 



Sample 1. — Fat, 16*77 per cent. ; substances soluble in boiling water 

 (gelatine and salts), 3*7 per cent. ; substances insoluble in boiling water 

 (coagulated proteins, &c), 2*73 per cent. The water percentage was not 

 estimated. These figures are calculated on the assumption that it was 

 the same as in the other parts of the fish. 



Sample 2. — 24*8 grm. ventral portion of frostfish gave 4*9584 grm. 

 ether-soluble fat = 20 per cent. 



Crystalline Substance. — On boiling fresh minced frostfish with 96 per 

 cent, alcohol, and allowing the extract to cool, a fine white crystalline 

 deposit formed. Under the microscope tw T o types of crystals appeared to 

 be present; the more numerous were balls of fine, pointed needles slightly 

 bent or twisted so that they resembled puff-balls, the others were much 

 smaller rounded clumps of indeterminate crystalline matter. At first 

 sight they might be mistaken for leucin and tyrosin. When filtered and 

 allowed to dry in the air the deposit formed a white powder, easily 

 soluble in water. It gave no biuret or Millon's reaction, and did not 

 reduce Fehling's solution. Ammonia caused a slight precipitate. When 

 directly tested the powder gave distinct evidence of carbon, nitrogen,, 

 and phosphorus. 



While frostfish is undoubtedly of high nutritive value, and an excel- 

 lent article of diet, the conditions under which the fish is obtained, its 

 doubtful degree of freshness, its high percentage of fat which from its 

 oily nature is apt to become rancid, the presence of a special alcohol- 

 soluble substance at present of unknown nature, all tend to make one 

 careful in advising its use for invalids. Parasitic worms — small, round, 



