EDITORIALS 



We learn from a Paris correspondent that Dr. Jules Wolff, of 

 the Pasteur Institute, is about to publish in the Annais de VInstitut 

 Pasteur (July), a paper in which the author reviews current knowl- 

 Peroxides and edge on the subject of the presence of peroxides 

 nitrites in plants Jn plants. Affirmed by some, disputed by others, 

 the question of the occurrence of these substances in plants has out- 

 lived numerous controversies. Kastle and Loevenhart, and Chodat 

 and Bach, have attributed to peroxides the phenomena which Aso 

 and others attribute to nitrites. Maze has shown that the sap of 

 all the higher plants contains nitrites. On the other band, Wolff 

 has found that nitrites are decomposed by the more or less acid 

 Juices of plants, and thus can induce phenomena of oxidation com- 

 parable to those which occur with the aid of the system: peroxidase 

 — hydrogen peroxide. Wolff doubts the importance of peroxides 

 and peroxidases as physiologic agents because they rarely occur 

 together in vegetahle Juices. On the other band, the number of 

 substances that can be attacked by nitrous acid far exceeds the 

 number that may be oxidized by the System : peroxidase — hydrogen 

 peroxide. However, Wolff has found, especially in apples {unpub- 

 lished data), a special peroxide which is produced only when there 

 is a lesion of the tissue. The brown color that develops on cut sur- 

 faces of fruit is a result of the action of this peroxide on a chromo- 

 genic substance. Such phenomena of color ation, contrary to cur- 

 rent opinion, are not due to oxidases. In Wolff's view, such 

 pigmentation residts from the combined action of a peroxide and 

 a peroxidase. X. 



In our April issue we presented a number of typical replies to 

 our circular note inviting expressions of opinion on the " Mathews 

 plan for the Organization of an American Biological Society" (p. 

 The Mathews plan 49^)- ^^ the little space available in this con- 

 for an American cluding number of Volume II, we present a few 

 Biological Society additional selections from the comment for- 

 warded to us on this subject. The October issue will continue this 



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