RECENT WORK IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY— AGROTECHNY. 



The chemical constitution of the proteins, R. H. A. I'limmer (London, New 

 York, Bombay, and Calcutta, lUlS, 2. cd., pt. 2, pp. XII+lOD.—Ui the second 

 edition of this book (E. S. li., 21, p. 210) the subject matter has been somewhat 

 rearranged to give a more complete idea of the problem of the synthesis of the 

 proteins. 



On the occurrence of dextrorotatory albumins in organic nature, J. Beabd 

 (Biol. Centbl., 33 (1913), No. 3, pp. 150-170).— In this work the author seeks to 

 show that dextrorotatory albumins occur and are widely distributed in organic 

 nature. To prove this hypothesis the Fischer "lock and key"' procedure was 

 utilized. The enzyuis eujployed were a mixture of trypsin and amylopsin 

 (Fairchlld) diluted with clear fresh raiu water. The organisms submitted to 

 the action of the enzyms were a Verticelhi PJanaria lactea, Hydra fusca alone 

 or in water containing either Trichodina pediculus or Daphnia pulex; Amoeba 

 alone or with crustacean "nauplii;'' Nats prohoscidea with either Melicerta 

 ringens or Carchesiiim polypinum; Cordylophora lacustris, Carchesiuni poly- 

 pinum, and a hydrachnid ; Actinosplia'riuin cichhorni; and Stentor coeruleus. 

 A'arious flagellate monads and micro-organisms ( ?) were also studied. 



"The 17 experiments carried out have established the thesis that living 

 asexual generations of animals are attacked, killed, and their albumins pulled 

 down by solutions of the pancreatic ferments, trypsin, and amylopsin (Fair- 

 child), in which sexual generations of animals go on living. The following 

 asexual generations of animals exhibited the deadly pulling-down action of pan- 

 creatic ferments, and thus revealed the dextrorotatory nature of their albumins; 

 Hydra, Cordylophora. Trichodina, Vorticella, Carchesium, Amoeba, Actinosphse- 

 rium, and Stentor, eight in all. . . . The following sexual generations of ani- 

 mals continued to live in solutions of these ferments . . . : Daphnia, a 

 hydrachnid or water mite, crustacean nauplii, Planaria, Nais. and Melicerta, 

 six in all. Zoologically, the experiment with H. fusca and D. puplex has special 

 interest, as D. pulex is a common prey of Hydra." 



The value of enzyms for the treatment of tuberculosis, the chief tropical dis- 

 eases, and other infectious diseases caused by unicellular organisms is dis- 

 cussed. Enzyms when introduced into the diseased body serve as an auxiliary 

 in the defensive mechanism and also help to digest the food of the individual. 



Some experiments on the precipitation of suspensoid protein by various 

 ions and some suggestions as to its cause, W. N. Heard (Jour. Physiol., 45 

 (1912), No. 1-2, pp. 27-38, figs. 2). — " The power of an electrolyte to precipitate 

 negatively charged suspensoid protein, while primarily dependent upon the 

 valency of the cation, is greatly modified by the relation of the latter to the 

 OH group, and its capacity to reduce the ionization of that group. The reason 

 the order of precipitation somewhat resembles the order of hydrolysis is due 

 to the fact that in both cases the reaction is between the cation and the OH 

 64822°— No. 7— 14 2 607 



