No. 1, February, 1921] PHYSIOLOGY 63 



413. Free, E. E. Sugar metabolism in cacti. [Rev. of : Spoehr, H. A. The carbohydrate 

 economy of cacti, Carnegie Inst. Washington, Publ. 287. 1919.] Plant World 22:308-309. 

 1919. 



414. Gatin, C. L., and M. Molliard. Utilisation comparee de divers constituants de 

 la membrane par le Xylaria Hypoxylon L. [The comparative utilization of various constituents 

 of the cell wall by Xylaria Hypoxylon L.] Rev. G6n. Bot. 32: 216-225. 1920.— A study of the 

 digestive action of a wood-destroying fungus (Xylaria Hypoxylon) on isolated constituents 

 of the cell wall in aseptic cultures. The constituents under investigation were added to a 

 mineral nutrient solution made up as follows: tap water, 100 cc; potassium nitrate, 0.2 g.; 

 ammonium phosphate, 0.05 g. ; magnesium sulphate, 0.05 g. Glucose and starch were also 

 used for comparison. Of all the substances tried, pectin was the most readily utilized by 

 Xylaria; 1.633 g. were used in building up 0.693 g. dry weight of mycelium. Then followed 

 in order xylose and glucose, mannogalactan of the carob, arabinose (about half as well used 

 as pectin), starch, and xylane. Good growth was also obtained on corrozo and the mucilage 

 of flax, whereas cherry gum was only slightly used, and gelose not at all. A further experi- 

 ment showed lignin to be very readily utilized. — L. W. Sharp. 



415. Hammarsten, Harold. Quantitative Versuche iiber Cannizzaro's Reaktion bei der 

 Kondensation der Acetaldehyde mit wassrigen Alkalien. [Quantitative experiments on Can- 

 nizzaro's reaction in the condensation of acetaldehyde by aqueous alkaline solution.] Ann. 

 Chem. [Liebig] 420: 262-275. 1920.— Acetaldehyde was subjected to N /2 KOH, N /3 Ba(0H)2, 

 or buffer salt mixtures for periods ranging from 1 to 240 hours and at temperatures of 0°, 18°, 

 and 50°C. At Ph 6.8 and 50° the aldehyde underwent Cannizzaro's reaction (simultaneous 

 oxidation and reduction) to the extent of 2 per cent in 3 hours, with no formation of wax. 

 The reaction extended to 3.8 per cent in 3 hours, with no wax formation, at Ph 9.6. At Ph 

 10.7 the Cannizzaro reaction extended to 5.8 per cent of the aldehyde in 18.5 hours, with a 

 yield of 10 to 20 per cent of wax. The Cannizzaro reaction is quite insignificant, relative 

 to the velocity of the aldol condensation; for the latter proceeds so rapidly that only very 

 little acid or alcohol can be formed. The limited extent of the Cannizzaro reaction at 50° 

 is ascribed to condensation of acetaldehyde to acetaldol, the latter decomposing to crotonic 

 aldehyde. — W. E. Tottingham. 



416. Legroux, ReniS, and Joseph Mesnard. Vitamines pour la culture des bacteries. 

 [Vitamines in the culture of bacteria.] Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris 170: 901-904. 1920.— 

 It is found that certain globules are necessary for the growth and development of the bacilli 

 of Pfeiffer (influenza). — C. H. and W. K. Farr. 



417. MuLLER, Erich. Die Dehydroxydation der Aldehyde. Mechanismus ihrer Oxyda- 

 tion. [The dehydroxydation of aldehydes. Mechanism of their oxidation.] Ann. Chem. 

 [Liebig] 420:241-263. 1920. — Dehydroxydation is electrochemical or chemical oxidation of 

 formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and benzaldehyde in alkaline solution, with the production of 

 gaseous hydrogen and an acid. Formaldehyde yields hydrogen by the action of certain metals 

 which also accelerate the Cannizzaro reaction (simultaneous oxidation and reduction). 

 The results of experiments with CuO, CU2O and AgaO as catalysts are given. The mechan- 

 ism of dehydroxydation in the case of ^cetaldehj'de is supposed to proceed in two alternate 

 ways, with the oxyaldehyde as a primary product, as follows: (1) Acetaldehy de-water + 

 electrical charge = oxyacetaldehyde + hydrogen ion. And (2) Oxyacetaldehyde + electri- 

 cal charge = acetic acid + hydrogen ion. (The H-ion apparently functions in the reduc- 

 tion of aldehyde to alcohol.) Or (3) Oxycetaldehyde -f electrical charge + acetic acid -|- 

 molecular hydrogen. — If reaction (3) is more rapid than (2) dehydroxydation occurs, and . 

 hydrogen appears. — W: E. Tottingham. 



418. Strand, E. [Rev. of: Lipschutz, A. Pflanze und Tier. [Plant and animal.] 

 J^p.ySfig. Theodor Thomas: Leipzig.] Arch. Naturgesch., Abt. A, 83, Heft 4:209. 1919.— 

 The author discusses the origin of the living substance of the plant and the formation of the 

 living substance of the human body out of food. — C. E. Allen. 



