I9I4] Editorials 529 



plete disintegration of the cellular structure in the conditions under 

 consideration) these complexes associated with the protoplasm be- 

 come fewer in number and liberale smaller amounts of Creatinin, or 

 are subjected to equally diminished cellular activities. 



The acceptance of the idea that the creatin which appears in 

 the urine on a creatin-free diet is a measure of muscular disintegra- 

 tion has been complicated by the results of Benedict and Osterberg^ 

 in their work upon the relation between the lack of power to utilize 

 carbohydrate and the excretion of creatin. They found the creatin 

 elimination from a phlorhizin-diabetic dog to persist at the fasting 

 level, instead of diminishing as might have been expected, upon the 

 reduction of the endogenous metabolism, The Creatinin excretion 

 was unaffected, in their experiments, beyond the reduction which 

 would have resulted alone from the loss of body tissue — a fact that 

 Supports the conception of Creatinin as an index of endogenous 

 metabolism. The origin of the creatin in this, and in fasting or its 

 related states, remains unexplained. It is possible that the internal 

 secretions are involved in the ability to utilize Creatinin.® 



The findings of Benedict and Osterberg complicate the Situation 

 with regard to an understanding of the origin of Creatinin. Perhaps 

 Creatinin is a product of some uniform phase of metabolism which 

 may or may not involve creatin directly but which produces condi- 

 tions favorable for the dehydration of creatin. With so few fun- 

 damental facts one is able to build numberless theories, each of 

 which has an dement of probability. 



Paul E. Howe. 



Biologists are divided into three camps, vitalists, mechanists, 



and those who sit on the boundary fence. The mechanists believe 



that all phenomena relating to life are attributed to the action of 



On the Constitution physical and chemical processes only. The vital- 



of matter jsts believe that life involves something beyond 



and behind these. Now, those who investigate natural philosophy, 



or physics, are endeavoring with some fair initial success, to explain 



8 Benedict and Osterberg : Jour. Biol. Chem., 1914, xviii, p. 18. 

 »Kraus: Quart. Jour. Physiol, 1913, vii, p. 87; Hunter: Ibid., 1914, viii, 

 p. II. 



