No. 2, March, 1921] PHYSIOLOGY 191 



poisonous principle of the beans is due to the glucoside "Phaseolunatina," CioHnOeN, 

 which by hydrolysis forms among other products hydrocyanic acid. This highly toxic prin- 

 ciple occurs in enormous quantities in uncultivated varieties of Phascolus lunatus, the amount 

 varying from 65 to 32U milligrams in 100 grams of beans. In cultivated, improved varieties 

 the poison is produced in hardly appreciable amounts. Histological studies were made of 

 these beans and it was found that they could be readily distinguished from ordinary beans 

 (Phaseolus vulgaris) by the form of certain cells of the seed coat and the absence in these of 

 crys-oals of oxalate of lime. — Prolonged boiling never completely removes the poison but as 

 boiling water dissolves the "Phaseolunatina" without destroying it, the decoction is as danger- 

 ous as are the beans themselves. It is only by means of delicate chemical tests that it is 

 possible to positively distinguish the poisonous from the improved varieties. The glucoside 

 in question is acted upon by various elements; among these the enzymes contained in the beans 

 in the presence of moisture, so that if the cells containing the glucoside are broken and this 

 comes in contact with the ferments, the reaction resulting in the formation of hydrocyanic 

 acid takes place. The hydrolysis is much more active if water is then added, resulting in a 

 much more rapid formation of the poison. This fact is taken advantage of in determining 

 the amount of hydrocyanic acid contained in the beans. A rapid method of quantitative 

 analysis is described in detail. The hydrocyanic acid in the distillate is determined by the 

 gravimetric, volumetric, or colorimetric method, the volumetric method of Liebig being 

 especially rapid. Another method of determining the poison contained in these beans is 

 described, this being based on the transformation of hydrocyanic acid into sulpho-cyanic 

 acid. By this process it is possible to determine quantities as small as 0.00001 HCN. Among 

 the varieties of beans studied only one, the "White Rangoon" was found to produce more 

 than 40 milligrams of hydrocyanic acid in 100 grams of the product. Other types of Ran- 

 goon and Burma beans produced only 3 to 8 milligrams of the poison. In addition to these 

 beans, a large number of other varieties were analyzed, negative results being obtained in 

 all, including the Lima bean in which no traces whatever of the poison were found. More 

 than 80 analyses were made. The remainder of the paper deals with consideration of legis- 

 lation relating to the sale for food purposes of the poison producing varieties of this bean. 

 In France beans containing 20 grams HCN are considered fit for food. The author recom- 

 mends that the amount of poison admissible should be less than that of the French legislation. 

 — S. C. Bruner. 



1289. Wattiez, N. Contribution a I'etude Polygonum Bistorta (L.) Localisation du tanin. 

 Son emploi conne succedane du Krameria Triandra (Ruiz et Pavon). (Contribution to the 

 study of Pelugonum Bistorta. Localization of tannin. Its employment as a substitute for 

 Krameria triandra.) Ann. & Bull. Soc. Roy. Sci. Med. & Nat. Bruxelles. 4: 121-128. 1920.— 

 In Belgium, during the war, the use of Cod Liver Oil being prohibited as a food and tonic, the 

 iodo-tannic syrup was prescribed frequently. The want of Rhatany necessitated the search 

 for an indigenous substitute. This has been found in the rhizome of Polygonum Bistorta 

 which contains 15 to 18 per cent of tannin. — Henri Micheels. 



PHYSIOLOGY 



B. M. DuGGAR, Editor 

 Carroll W. Dodge, Associate Editor 



PROTOPLASM, MOTILITY 



1290. Herlant, M. Le cycle de la vie cellulaire. Recherches physiologique sur la divi- 

 sion de la cellule. (Note preliminaire.) [The life cycle of the cell. Physiological investiga- 

 tions on cell division.] Ann. et Bull. Soc. Roy. Sci. Med. et Nat. Bruxelles 4:112-117. 

 1920.— See Bot. Absts. 7, Entry 731. 



