12 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



zoek. Rijkslandlowoproefstat. [Netherlands], Wo. i£ (1918), pp. 186-198, /?</. 

 1). — A study of the influence of hydrogen and hydroxy] inns on the speed of in- 

 activation of peroxidase in milk showed that the addition of B small amount of 

 acid had almost no effect, while the addition of so small an amount of sodium 

 hydroxid that phenolphthalein still remained colorless increased to a marked 

 degree the rate of lnactivation of the enzym. 



A delicate method of determining invert activity, ('. K. WATANAH and 

 V. C. Mykks (Proe. Boo. Bxpt. I'.ioi. and Med,, U {1911 i, pp. Hi, US).— 



The technique of the method is as follows: 



To 8 cc. of water In a 50-cc. centrifuge tuhe is added l cc. of the extract t<» be 

 examined and the solution warmed to jusi •!•»- c. in a water bath with thermo- 

 stat attachment One <<•. of l per rent cane Bugar is added and incubation 

 carried out tor o ( > minutes. This solution Is rapidly cooled in cold water and 

 0.5 to l gm. of dry picric mill added, thoroughly mixed, centrifuged, and 

 filtered. The Inverted sugar la then estimated colorimetrically in 3 cc. portions, 



The role of oxidases and of iron in the color changes of sugar cane juice, 

 l\ W.Zkbban (Jour. Indus, and Bngin. Chem., 10 (1918), No. t0,pp. -i) 111; La. 

 Planter, <>i (1918), No. 19, i>i>. 299, .WO). — Experiments are reported from the 

 Louisiana Sugar Experiment station which prove the pr c a cn c c in young cane 

 shoots of a laccase, of tyrosinase, and of peroxidase. The color of raw Jb 

 is shown to depend on the presence or absence of oxidizing enzyme, the presence 



or absence Of iron salts, and the nature of the latter if present The dark 



brown color of cane Juice obtained In the absence of iron is considered to be 

 due to the action of laccase, the polyphenols presenl In the cane, and to a small 

 extent to thai of the tyrosinase upon the tyrosin of the cane The dark u'i-,-«-ii 

 eohu- of the cane Juice from the factory mill Is due to the Interaction of the 



laccase, the polyphenols of the cane, and the ferrous salts formed by the action 

 of the organic ne upon the iron ..f the mill. 



On the preparation of an active decolorizing carbon from kelp, 1' \\ . 

 ban and E ( '. liaii \m> (•/"!/;•. Indus, and Bngin <'li<m., in (1918), \" /". pp. 

 \/> -/;i. Experiments conducted at the Louisiana Sugar Experiment Station 



arc reported which show that a carbon which lias a much greater d lor! 



pott er than Not it can he prepared in the laboratory by qul< kly carbonizing dried 

 Pacific Coast kelp in BUCh a way that the fumes can freeh escape, after which 



the char is transferred to a closed iron r ptacle and heated to red heat for 



about two boura The carbon i-^ boiled with bucci ssive portioi ater, dilute 



hydrochloric add, and water and then dried. 



The authors consider that the decolorizing power of the kelp carbon is 

 largely due to its nitrogen content 



Russia's production of platinum. A. II. Mi BS (lour. Indus, and Bngin. f'/o m.. 

 id (1918), \". //. /-/'■ 920 925, figs. S). \ statistical report 



An automatic pipette for the tubing of culture media. 11. UAKDOT and 11. 

 Vt..ia i \ (Compt. Rend. 8oc. Biol. [P\ t (1918), No. 8, pp. /J"/; I).— 



An all-glass automatic pipette suitable for use In tubing culture media is de- 

 scribed and Illustrated. The apparatus can be readily sterilized and Is said to 



be Of easy manipulation. 



An automatic distributor for neutral solution of chlorinated soda (Dakin's 

 solution"). L. .1. Strong (Jour. imer. tied, 11 (1911 t9, p. 15S6).— 



The apparatus, which is described and Illustrated, consists of an Irrigating can, 

 with a rubber delivery tube provided with a screw clamp so that the rate of 

 flow through the dripping apparatus can be controlled, and a drop tube con* 

 oected bj a D tuhe with b large inverted test tube serving as a reservoir to 

 ciiect the solution. This is connected bj means of rubber tubing with ■ i 



onil tuhe. which can he raised or lowered and tlm s a siphon to dis 



