I9I3] /• K. Phelps ' 8i 



action on pepsin, whereas the action of pepsin on trypsin is markedly 

 destructive. While an acid medium weakens trypsin, pepsin plus 

 acid seems to destroy it rapidly. 



A further study o£ the well water o£ Delaware, Ohio. G. O. 

 HiGLEY, {Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, 0.) This study 

 was intended to Supplement the report made at the spring meeting : 

 to trace the relation between well water and an outbreak of typhoid. 

 The city water has been examined and found safe. The water of 

 about 100 wells has been analyzed and much of it found polluted. 

 Five vaults were selected in various parts of the city and in markedly 

 different soils : these were heavily salted and a weekly test f or 

 Chlorides made during a period of nearly two months, in the water 

 of thirteen wells located from 58 to 118 feet from the vaults. Com- 

 parison of results of analyses, made before and after the salting 

 process, showed a decided increase in chlorides in the well water at 

 four of the five centers and in seven of the thirteen wells. 



On the distribution of mercury following acute bichloride 

 o£ mercury poisoning. Jacob Rosenbloom. (Biochemical Lab- 

 oratory of the Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittshnrgh, Pa.) 

 Estimations of the amount of mercury in the organs of a woman 

 who died 8 days after ingestion of bichloride of mercury. 



The non-interference of ptomaines with certain tests for 

 morphine. Jacob Rosenbloom and S. Roy Mills. (Biochemical 

 Lahoratory of the Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa. ) 

 We have determined experimentally that bacterial products, formed 

 during aerobic and anaerobic putrefaction of various human organs, 

 do not give reactions simulating those due to the presence of mor- 

 phine. In no way do they interfere with the detection of morphine 

 when the latter is added to a mixture of these putrefactive products. 



The effect of electrolysis on whole proteins, Witte peptone, 

 and some of their decomposition products. James P. Atkin- 

 SON. (Chemical Lahoratory, Department of Health, City of New 

 York.) Whole protein (egg white), Witte peptone, and protein 

 (horse serum) hydrolyzed by hydrochloric acid, yield approxi- 

 mately 50 percent of the total nitrogen as ammonia, when electro- 

 lyzed in a sulfuric acid Solution. The amino acids tested, glycyl- 

 glycine, uric acid and urea, do not yield as much nitrogen in the 



