Anatomical Elements 839 



5. Emulsin. 



Experiment CCCCLXXVI (2). February 16. This experiment was 

 performed at the same time and under the same conditions as the 

 three preceding ones. 



March 15. There is much mold on the emulsin which was not 

 compressed; no molds on the other, any more than on the other tubes. 



The formation of the essence of bitter almond on contact with 

 amygdalin takes place in both liquids, March 25, when taken from 

 the drying oven. 



May 11. The emulsin which was not compressed is covered with 

 mold, alkaline, foul, and impotent. 



The other seems fresh, has no odor, is slightly acid, and acts 

 energetically and rapidly. 



In summary, all the soluble false ferments upon which we ex- 

 perimented, salivary diastase, pepsin, inversive ferment, myrosin, 

 emulsin, have given us the same result and have kept their char- 

 acteristic power after the prolonged effect of oxygen at high 

 tension. And even more, since the oxygen frees them of the germs 

 of mold, vibriones, etc., which sooner or later destroy them in the 

 open air, they remain themselves for an apparently indefinite time. 



This remarkable power can perhaps be used in practice, and 

 especially in therapy. It would be a good idea, I feel sure, to 

 substitute for powders and extracts, so harmful to the digestive 

 juices, the juices themselves, previously subjecting them to a 

 sufficient pressure, to prevent putrefaction in them. But I can 

 merely suggest this idea here. 



Subchapter III 



EFFECT OF OXYGEN AT HIGH TENSION UPON THE 

 ANATOMICAL ELEMENTS 



After noting, in Chapter IV, the rapidly fatal effect of oxygen at 

 high tension upon the higher animals, we tried to analyze this 

 effect, according to the methods introduced by M. Claude Bernard 

 in toxicology. Sectioning of the nerves, examination of the heart, 

 use of anesthetics, and the injection of the blood of animals killed 

 by oxygen into the veins of other animals have showed us that the 

 violent symptoms which precede and bring on death, are the result 

 of an over-excitement of the nervous centers, so that I was led to 

 compare the effect of oxygen with that of strychnine and phenol. 



After death, the muscles are still contractile, the nerves are 



