52 New Type of Artificial Cell [Sept. 



tion. The same type of protein-film is formed on these globules 

 but they differ from chloroform-lecithin globules in that the benzol 

 is not replaced by water. If the benzol-lecithin globule is stained in 

 neutral red Solution and placed in 7?/iooo ammonium hydroxid 

 Solution, the color change from red to yellow takes place almost 

 instantly. But it is only after 15-20 minutes that sodium hydroxid 

 in relatively high (;i/io) concentrations can enter. Ammonium 

 hydroxid is readily soluble in the benzol droplet, while sodium 

 hydroxid is not; and in this fact lies the explanation of the differ- 

 ence in penetrability. When stained in neutral red Solution, prac- 

 tically all living cells behave as though they were protected from 

 alkali by a benzol-lecithin surface layer. 



It is a simple matter to introduce various substances into these 

 cells by dissolving or suspending the material in the chloroform- 

 lecithin Solution before it is shaken with the protein Solution. 

 Thus, oil may be dissolved by Chloroform and will separate in the 

 cell in several large droplets much like those in a Nereis egg. Or 

 cholesterol, starch grains and finely divided protein particles can be 

 likewise included ; or substances to be used as indicators in study- 

 ing the permeability of the protein film. 



Such cells, regarded as complex Systems of biological sub- 

 stances, offer exceptional advantages for interpreting phenomena 

 observed in living cells under special conditions; for example, dur- 

 ing the passage of an electric current. Movements and disintegra- 

 tions take place which I have as yet only partially investigated. In 

 the near future I intend to describe these phenomena and shall give 

 more complete data upon the permeability of the film which sur- 

 rounds the cells. 



