542 



Enzymes a^ Factors in Edema 



[June 



TABLE I 



First series. Data showing the influence of pepsin on the ahsorption and 

 retention of water by collagen particles in dilute hydrochloric acid Solution con- 

 taining sodium chlorid. 



General data. The total volume of liquid in each test was 250 c.c, and 

 the concentration of HCl was invariably 0.025^. Each mixture, except those of 

 experiment 7, contained 2 grams of collagen. Experiments 1-3 were conducted 

 with one preparation of collagen; experiments 4-7 with another. The pepsin 

 product was the same throughout ("Pepsin, Merck: Powder — U. S. P., 01820"). 



Experiment i. The strength of the stock Solution of pepsin was 0.017^ (o.l 

 gram of product in 600 c.c. of water) ; the proportion of pepsin product in the 

 presence of the collagen was 0.000,041^. 



Experiment 2. The strength of the stock Solution of pepsin was 0.067^ (0.1 

 gram of product in 150 c.c. of water) ; the proportion of pepsin product in the 

 presence of the collagen was 0.000,08^. 



Experiment 3. The strength of the stock Solution of pepsin was 0.133^ (o.i 

 gram of product in 75 c.c. of water) ; the proportion of pepsin product in the 

 presence of the collagen was 0.000,16^. 



Experiment 4. In this and the remaining experiments of the series a new 

 and more sensitive preparation of collagen was employed. The strength of 

 the stock Solution of pepsin was 0.25^ (o.i gram of product in 40 c.c. of water) ; 

 the proportion of pepsin product in the presence of the collagen was 0.000,3^. 



