AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY AGROTECHNY. 19 



The data reported in Parts II, 111, and IV have been previously noted from 

 another source (E. S. R., 31, p. 273). 



Lactochrome, the yellow pigment of milk whey. — Its probable identity 

 with urochrome, the specific yellow pigment of normal urine, L. S. I'almer 

 and L. PI. Cooledge {Missouri Sla. Research Bui. 13 (1914), jrp. Ji53-.'iS7, pis. 

 2). — In this study in cooperation with the Dairy Division of tliis Department, 

 the authors conclude that " lactochrome, the yellow pigment of milk whey, is 

 very closely related in chemical and physical properties to urochrome, the 

 specific yellow pigment of normal urine, and is very probably identical with it. 

 Alcoholic solutions of lactochrome, or aqueous solutions containing a little 

 alcohol, on treatment with ' active' acetaldehyde and heat, are transformed into 

 solutions whose spectroscopic and other properties are practically identical with 

 those of urobilin. On continued action of the aldehyde a secondary pigment is 

 formed with still different spectroscopic properties. In these two properties 

 lactochrome is identical with similar solutions of urochrome. A concentrated 

 aqueous solution yields a yellow granular compound on bromination which 

 gives a strong reaction for pyrol, and in almost all of its other properties is 

 identical with a similar compound obtained on bromination of a concentrated 

 aqueous solution of urochrome. 



" The presence of lactochrome was found to be characteristic of the milk of 

 all breeds of cows tested, i. e., Ayrshire, Jersey, Holstein, and Shorthorn. 

 The amount of lactochrome appears to be largely a breed characteristic, with 

 the Aj-rshire and Jersey breeds ranking considerably above the Holstein and 

 Shorthorn, The presence of comparatively large amounts of lactochrome in 

 the milk of some animals is of considerable importance in imparting to milk its 

 characteristic yellow color. Lactochrome was found in sheep's milk, often in 

 much larger quantities than in cow's milk, and was also found in traces in 

 human milk." 



A bibliography of 19 titles is appended. 



The nature of enzym action, W. M. Bayliss (London, New York, Bomhay, 

 and Calcutta, 191 i. 3. rev. ecL, pp. TIII+ISO, figs. 7).— In this third edition 

 (E. S. II., 25, p. 609) a considerable amount of new material has been incor- 

 poi'ated and certain paragraphs have been revised. "Attention is particularly 

 directed to the chapters on 'reversibility' and on the 'combination' between 

 enzym and substi*atum, as also to the section on antienzyms, which have, for the 

 most part, been rewritten." 



About the lipase of Chelidonium seeds, K. Bournot (Biocheni. Ztschr., 

 52 (1913), No. 3-J,, pp. 172-205; ahs. in Zenthl. Expt. Med., 4 (1913), No. 13, 

 pp. 589, 590). — The lipase of Chelidonium seed, like Ricinus lii)ase, is soluble 

 in water and glycerol, but in addition it is somewhat soluble in ether or 

 petroleum ether. In contradistinction to castor-bean lipase, it acts best in 

 water containing no additions of other substances. 



Formation of humic substances by the action of polypeptids upon sugar, 

 L. C. Maillard (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 156 (1913), No. 15, pp. 1159, 

 1160; abs. in Zentbl. Expt. Med., 4 (1913), No. 10, p. 435).— The formation of 

 humic substances depends upon the substitution of NH2 groups of amino acids 

 by COH or CO groups of reducing sugars with the evolution of carbon dioxid 

 from the terminal carboxyl groups of acids. Inasmuch as the polypeptids 

 have a terminal NIL and a terminal COOH group, it seems i^lausible to assume 

 that by the transformation of sugars humic substances can be obtained. It 

 was also found possible to obtain these substances from xylose and glycylglycin 

 and from peptones. 



Colloidal chlorophyll and the changes of position in the absorption bands 

 in living plant leaves, D. Iwanowski (Biocliein. Ztschr.. .}8 (1913), Xo. 4, 



