22 Literature on Inosite-Phosphoric Acid [Sept. 



grains, namely, extraction of the macerated seeds with ether and 

 removal of the aleuron grains from the cellular debris by Sedimenta- 

 tion in this medium. They are insoluble in both alcohol and ether, 

 somewhat soluble in water, and quite soluble in dilute acids. 



In the years following Hartig's discovery several other botanists 

 turned their attention to the aleuron grains and came to conflicting 

 conclusions as to their nature. Von Holle considered them protein 

 carriers and referred to them as " Proteinkörner." Both Sachs and 

 Gris looked upon the particles as fat concentrates. By far the most 

 important study in this field was the comprehensive work of Pfeffer 

 in 1872. He differentiated the grains described by Hartig into 

 three groups : (i) crystals of calcium Oxalate, (2) a protein sub- 

 stance, and (3) a Compound giving no reactions for protein, fat, or 

 inorganic salts. This last type was found in all of the one hundred 

 different seeds which he examined. These particles he described as 

 having rounded surfaces, assuming spheroidal shapes and fre- 

 quently twinning, so as to present a convoluted appearance. Enough 

 of the grains were obtained for a chemical examination, which was 

 made for him by his colleague Brandon. The solubilities were the 

 same as those reported by Hartig. Nitrogen could not be detected. 

 Positive tests were obtained for calcium, magnesium, and phos- 

 phorus. Organic matter was noted and the Suggestion made that 

 the substance was a phosphate combined with a carbohydrate. 

 These phosphorus-bearing spheroidal bodies occurring with or in the 

 aleuron grains Pfeffer named "Globoid." 



DISCOVERY OF INOSITE-PHOSPHORIC ACID BY THE CHEMIST 



Palladin, while engaged on a study of the proteins of Sinapis 

 niger in 1893, observed an unusual phenomenon. After extraction 

 of the fat-free finely ground seeds with ten per cent. sodium chlorid 

 Solution and heating the extract, he obtained a voluminous precipi- 

 tate which partly dissolved on standing. A few trials showed that 

 he had a substance soluble in cold but insoluble in hot water. By 

 filtering off the permanent coagulum, reheating the filtrate and 

 filtering while hot, he obtained a fairly pure product rieh in phos- 

 phorus, containing calcium and magnesium, but no nitrogen. It 

 proved non-reducing when tested with Fehling Solution, both before 



