608 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



group; but the law of the ions and the complicated conditions present in the 

 mixture of protein and electrolyte cause considerable differences between the 

 two orders which are only superficially alike. Hydrolysis may or may not 

 increase the precipitating power of an electrolyte according to the power of the 

 cation and its relation to H. The trivalent and most ix)werful divalent metals 

 have two curves of precipitation, and it is suggested that the first is the throw- 

 ing down by the anion of the protein which has been made electropositive by 

 the cation. 



" Positively charged suspensoid protein being kept in solution by the charge 

 given it by H, the power of the anion to precipitate is due to its capacity to 

 reduce the Ionization of the compound of acid and protein. Though the cation 

 is the principal element in the precipitation of alkaline protein, and the anion 

 in the precipitation of acid protein, the accompanying ion is probably never 

 without some effect. Probably this influence is of a complex nature and due to 

 different causes." 



Nitrogenous hydrolysis products of several phosphatids, C. G. MacArthub 

 and G. XoBBrRY (Ahs. in Science, n. ser., 38 {19 IS). Xo. 984, P- 678).— The 

 phos])hatids studied were sheep brain cephalin, sheep brain lecithin, ox heart 

 cuorin, and ox heart lecithin. Each of the prei)ai-ations was purified and 

 hydrolyzed with dilute hydrochloric acid In evei'y case the fatty acid residue 

 contained nitrogen and usually it represented one-sixth of the total substances. 



Fatty acids from cephalin, L. V. Burton and C. G. MacAbthur (Ahs. in 

 Science, n. ser., 38 {1913), No. 984, P- 678).— The fatty acids obtained as a 

 i-esult of hydrolyziug purified cephalin with a dilute hydrochloric acid solution 

 were separated into the saturated and unsaturated fatty acids by the lead 

 acetate method. The acids were identified. 



Researches on the nature of enzym action. — III, The synthetic action of 

 enzyms, W. M. Batliss (Jour. Physiol., Jf6 {1913), Xo. 3, pp. 236-266. figs. 3).— 

 This continues previous work (E. S. 11., 27, p. 612). 



" Reactions in the system, glycerol, glucose, glycerol-glucosid, and water, as 

 accelerated by emulsin. follow in all respects the laws deduced from mass 

 action for an equilibrium in a reversible system, catalyzed by a single enzym. 

 The equilibrium position is the same from whichever end it is approached. 

 The glucosid produced is the /3 form and the same which is hydrolyzed by 

 emulsin. The rate of the reaction is directly proportional to the concentration 

 of the enzym, although not in linear proportion. The final equilibrium at- 

 tained is independent of the concentration of the enzym. 



" Results in which it appeared that a large amount of enzym was capable of 

 producing a different equilibrium position from that produced by a smaller 

 amount are shown to have been due to removal of the enzym, either by destruc- 

 tion or paralysis by products, before true equilibrium was attained. Van't 

 Hoff's view as to the greater ease of synthesis of the glucosids of the primary 

 alcohols, as compared with those of the tertiary alcohols, is confirmed in the 

 case of the two kinds of amyl alcohol. Evidence is given (o show that the 

 action of emulsin. which takes place in liquids in which it is completely in- 

 soluble, is exerted on its surface. The reacting substances are probably 

 brought into close contact by condensation on this surface (adsox'ption), owing 

 to their causing diminution of surface energy. 



" Rosenthaler's hydrolyzing form of emulsin is shown to be capable of syn- 

 thetic action in addition; while his experiments supposed to show the separate 

 existence of an emulsin witJi synthetic powers only could not be confirmed. 

 Both powers were found to disappear together, so that the equilibrium point 

 under enzym preparations, treated and untreated, was the same, although the 

 rate of the reaction was different. The results of dilatometer experiments are 



