ACTION OF ENZYME POISONS 85 



organisation of the cell must be suspect, including even 

 those enzymes concerned in the mediation of genetic 

 effects. 



The case which we have been considering is the one 

 in which we have the greatest knowledge of the organi- 

 sation of enzymic processes. We cannot proceed very 

 much further with the elucidation of the action of drugs 

 in this manner until much more elaborate studies have 

 been made on the enzymes concerned. 



The Action of Various Enzyme Poisons on 

 Different Physiological Processes 



An alternative method of exploring the action of enzyme 

 poisons is by considering their effect on different phys- 

 iological processes. Table xvii shows the action of four 

 different drugs on eight different physiological processes. 

 Of the four drugs, colchicine is the only one whose 

 effect may be restricted to one physiological process 

 only. The other drugs interfere with several physiolog- 

 ical activities. As we have already noted, HCN, iodo- 

 acetate and mustard gas all have a strong action upon 

 the metabolism of glucose, and theories have been put 

 forward from time to time that their physiological effect 

 is produced by interference with the metabolism of glu- 

 cose. But when we consider the action of these substances 

 on different physiological processes it is seen that their 

 actions are not always the same. One of the most striking 



