BY R. GREIG SMITH. 837 



in great part, freed from tarry bodies by moistening with alcohol 

 and treatment with ether. 



The three fractions were separated into a number of portions 

 by means of (1) warm water, (2) solution in hot alcohol and 

 cooling of the solution, and (3) evaporation of the alcohol. All 

 the fractions contained galactosazone and a small quantity of a 

 vitreous yellow impurity which melted at 150°. The latter l^iad 

 undoubtedly been present in the osazone of my earlier research. 

 No osazone other than galactosazone was obtained. 



Thus the carbohydrate of Bad. sacchari is a galactan. It had 

 been shown to give the furfural reaction, and in confirmation of 

 its nature it was found to yield mucic acid upon oxidation with 

 dilute nitric acid. 



Galactan was also produced by the bacterium in fluid saccharose 

 cultures, and especially was the presence of the slime shown when 

 the medium contained chalk. In these solutions there was no 

 production of reducing sugars, so that the organism did not 

 secrete invertase. Acids were produced from saccharose, and 

 the identification of these was necessary to complete the investi- 

 gation. The medium in which they were formed consisted of 

 saccharose 50 grm., peptone 5 grm., potassium phosphate 1 grm., 

 potassium chloride 5 grm , chalk 10 grm., and water 1000 c.c. 

 The method of separating the acids was essentially that described 

 on pp. 118-120 of these Proceedings. 



The ratio of the volatile to the non-volatile acids was as 

 8*1 : 34-7, or roughly as 1 : 4. The former consisted of acetic and 

 formic acids. Acetic acid was identified by the silver salt and 

 the odour. Formic acid was proved by the blackening of the 

 filtrate from the silver acetate and the formation of calomel upon 

 boiling the solution of the acids with mercuric chloride. The 

 non-volatile acids consisted of succinic with small quantities of 

 lauric and palmitic. The first was identified by its melting point, 

 capability of being sublimed, and by the formation of the ferric 

 salt. The separation of the lauric and palmitic acids, which 

 separated as a fat after removal of the ether, w^as effected by 

 warming the mixture upon porous porcelain at 45° for some 



