No. 1, May, 1921] PHYSIOLOGY 89 



spikes in over 85 months, and set fruit. The total weight obtained was 24 g. as against 11.2 

 g. for controls. Beans treated with 2 per cent methyl alcohol far surpassed controls in growth 

 in 14 days. Cucurbit and carrot seedlings placed directly in alcohol solutions were injured. 

 Cabbage treated with 0.25 per cent glycerin solution attained in 3 months a weight of 138.1 g. 

 as compared with 74.4 g. for the control. The foregoing suggests as fertilizer the wastes from 

 cellulose industries in which the sulphite process is employed, such waste containing a vary- 

 ing amount of sugar in addition to other organic constituents. Experiments with such 

 material as fertilizer were conducted on plants in pots and in other containers. The addi- 

 tion cf sulphite wastes are stated to have increased growth. Brief consideration is given to 

 the possible fertilizing values of urine, urea, and urea compounds, with citations from other 

 workers. — W. W. Bonus. 



622. BouRQUELOT, Em. Remarques sur la methode biochimique de recherche des gluco- 

 sides hydrolysables par I'emulsine a propos de la note de M. P. Delauney. [The biochemical 

 methods for research on the glucosides hydrolysable by emulsin.] Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. 

 Paris 171 : 423-425. 1920. — Fourteen new glucosides of this type have been found in addition 

 to the 8 known before 1902. Some of these have now been found in other plants. Out of 

 281 species examined 205 contained glucosides of this type. — C. H. Farr. 



623. BouRQUELOT, Em., et M. Bridel. Recherche et caracterisation du glucose dans les 

 vegetaux par un procede biochimique nouveau. [Detection and identification of glucose in plants 

 by a new biochemical process.] Jour. Pharm. et Chimie 22: 209-215. 1920. — The usual tests 

 applied for detecting glucose in plants, that is, reduction of Fehling's solution, fermentation 

 produced by means of yeast, or conversion into the osazone by means of phenylhydrazine, 

 are not specific for this sugar, because other sugars, such as the aldohexoses, the aldopentoses, 

 maltose, gentiobiose, cellobiose, and even glocosides, such as verbenalin, have reducing prop- 

 erties. Levulose, mannose, galactose, maltose, and saccharose can be fermented by beer yeast, 

 levulose and mannose give the same osazone. When to an aqueous solution of a glucoside 

 emulsin is added, the former is hydrolyzed, glucose is formed, and the solution becomes dex- 

 trorotatory. This reaction is reversible when carried out in an alcoholic medium, the glucose 

 forming, for instance when methyl alcohol is used, a glucoside in the presence of emulsin, 

 methyl glucoside, which is levorotatory. By applying this method, the authors succeeded 

 in identifying glucose in juniper, Loroglossum, etc., which contain quite a number of other 

 sugars in addition to glucose. For the details of the method the original should be consulted. 

 — H. Engelhardt. 



624. BouRQUELOT, Em., et H. Herissey. Essai de synthase biochimique d'un manno- 

 biose. [Attempt to synthesize a mannobiose.] Jour. Pharm. et Chimie 21:81-85. 1920. — 

 The albuminoids of St. John's bread consist of mannan and galactan and are hydrolyzed by a 

 ferment seminase. This ferment, which is also present in Trigonella foenum graecum, Medi- 

 cago saliva and Sarothamnus scoparius, has been utilized to synthesize mannobiose. For this 

 purpose a maceration of lucerne seeds was allowed to act on an aqueous solution of mannose 

 in the presence of a small amount of toluene. The results were not quite conclusive, a new 

 substance probably consisting of 2 molecules of mannobiose, which, however, could not be 

 obtained in a pure state, appears to be formed. — H. Engelhardt. 



625. BouRQUELOT, Em., et H. H:6rissey. Presence dans le Melilot et I'Asperule odorante 

 de glucosides foumissant de la coumarine sous I'action hydrolysante de I'emulsine. [The 

 presence of glucosides in Melilotus and Asperula odorata furnishing coumarin by the hydro- 

 lyzing action of emulsin.] Jour. Pharm. et Chemie 22 : 289-298. 1920. — Melilotus and wood- 

 root contain a glucoside which is split up by emulsin into coumarin and d-glucose, but the 

 investigations do not throw any light on the constitution of the glucoside, which may con- 

 tain other constituents besides these 2. The emulsin is present in the plant itself and can 

 be obtained in powdered form. It readily hydrolyzes amygdalin and salicin. — H. Engelhardt. 



