191 1] William J. Gies 309 



immersed in combined acid Solutions (Witte peptone in 0.2 to 2.0 

 per Cent, hydrochloric acid Solution) where they promptly lost all 

 the water they had previously absorbed from the free acid Solution 

 and soon returned to the original dimensions. 



All these results suggest that acid would not cause the gel proteins 

 in the cells to imbibe water abnormally in the presence of the asso- 

 ciated sol proteins. The results also Warrant the provisional infer- 

 ence that the circulating sol proteins would attract (and by osmosis 

 obtain) acid of intracellular origin from any combinations there 

 existing with either intracellular gel proteins or the intracellular 

 sol proteins, or both. That the circulating sol proteins lose to the 

 associated circulating basic Compounds any acid combined with or 

 adsorbed to the proteins is a justifiable belief. That the salins 

 resulting from such neutralization reduce hydrophilia in the vicin- 

 ity of their origin and transit before their excretion, is indicated by 

 many observations. "The acid end products of metabolism, with- 

 out appreciably changing the actual alkaline reaction, constantly 

 take up alkali from blood and protoplasm. In this manner there is 

 a tendency to disturb the normal protective equilibrium between 

 bases and acids. This tendency is held in check by the kidney, which 

 in the process of urine formation reverses the reaction of neutrali- 

 zation of acid and restores to the blood that alkali which has served 

 as a carrier of acid."^^ 



Fischer bases his whole conception on the action of acid as acid. 

 That acid, as acid, is the responsible and aggressive agent in the 

 production of any natural edema is something that I cannot see. 

 On the other band, that acid by reducing basicity or effecting a re- 

 action-discoordination or inducing some other molecular disequili- 

 bration, may be an inciting cause, or a stimiüating influence, or an 

 indirect though none the less influential factor, is quite compre- 

 hensible. As a link in a chain of factors, the influence of acid in 

 effecting abnormal hydrophilia is conceivably important. 



Fischer's book has the great merit of sharply stimulating ques- 

 tions. Do any non-acid products of intermediary metabolism re- 

 tard or accelerate the presumed action of lactic acid in edema? 

 Fischer does not discuss this matter. Has it been definitely estab- 



"Henderson: Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1911, ix, p. 423. 



