456 CYAXOOEXKSIS IN" PLAXTS, 



valueless for these investigations, as it is known that fungi can simulate many 

 enzymes in their action. For this reason ehlorofonn is much used in the bio- 

 ohemical, laboratory. 



To test wliether chloroform exerted any influence on the action of the enzyme 

 during these autolysis experiments a number of trials were made. To the tiask 

 containing the plant-]iowder was added 1 cc. of chloroform dissdlvcd in 500 ccs. 

 of water. (The solubility of chloroform is 1 in 200.) 



Table E. 



Autolysis ill presence of ehlorofonn. 



HON 

 Xo. Particular treatment. mgs. fr 



Sample II. Ifi Control — macerated ivithoiit chloroform 1 day ' 120 



38 ^Macerated with chloi-oform n-2 '!r solutimi I ,, "-' 



39 ., ., 4 .. 79 



The results of a number of experiments were, in general, the same as those 

 lepresented in Table E. The yield of hydrocyanic acid was considerably decreased 

 by the addition of 1 cc. of chloroform during the autolysis. 



F. Autolysis of the extracted glucosicle. 



In some plants which have been investigated, comjilcx factors have been re- 

 cogtiised whicli greatly interfei'e with the proper action of the enzyme. The ditfi- 

 eulty has been frequently overcome by first extractiEg the glucoside with water 

 (ir alcohol in a Soxhlet extractor. 



In the-se experiments the leaves were first treated ra|iidly with boiling alcohol 

 to destrov the enzyme, and then extracted in a Soxhlet with ah-nhol. Aftei- dis- 

 tilling off the solvent the residue left was: — 



In No. 40 mixed with water and autolysed with emulsin. 



In No. 41 again extracted with water in Soxhlet, and the solution autolysfd 

 with 5 gms. of emulsin for 1 day. 



Table K. 



Aiiiolysis after extraction of tlie ,s:lucoside. 



HCX 

 N '. Particular treatment. mgs. % 



Sain|il'' III. :ii' ' Control — plant autolysed with emulsin for 1 ilay 300 



li> Extracted residui' autolysed with emulsin 27-"> 



41 Aqueous solution of extracted residue autolyspcl with 



emulsiu for 1 <lav 27 1 



Besnlt. — In the case of Iletemcletidron the yield is not increa.sed by previous 

 extraction of the ';iucoside and hydrolysis of its solution. 



Discussion ok ■vnv. Results. 



Table A.^The direct distillation of the leaves with water alone yields some- 

 times a trace of hydrocyanic acid and sometimes mme. Until recently, any hydro- 

 cyanic acid obtained in this numner wa.s considered to exist in the fi'ee state in 



