26 Chittenden and Hart — Elastin and the Elastose Bodies. 



Analysis of Protoelastose (Ai) from the Alcoholic Filtrate. 



Percentage composition of ash-free substance. 



16-73 



17-31 



Average. 



7-12 

 17-02 

 21-59 



100-00 



The reactions of the two preparations were identical and were as 

 follows; both were readily soluble in cold water, but only slightly 

 soluble in hot water; in neutral solution, heat produced a turbidity 

 which disa^ipeared on cooling; the concentrated mineral acids gave 

 precipitates soluble in excess ; phosphotungstic acid, picric acid, tan- 

 nic acid, 30 per cent, acetic acid saturated wnth salt, acetic acid and 

 potassium ferrocyanide, and alcohol all produced precipitates; mer- 

 curic chloride and mercuric nitrate gave precipitates insoluble in 

 excess ; lead acetate and cupric sulphate both failed to give any 

 precipitate ; potassium mercuric iodide produced a precipitate in a 

 hydrochloric acid solution ; sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide 

 gave heavy precipitates and both the biuret and xanthoprotein test 

 gave positive results. Further, the elastose is but slightly, if at all, 

 diffusible. Long continued concentration of an aqueous solution 

 leads to a separation of more or less of the substance as a gummy 

 mass. 



In composition, the protoelastose formed by action of the dilute 

 acid and heat is almost identical with that of elastin itself. 



Morochowetz,* in a recent paper on the laws of digestion, states 

 that elastin by the action of heat and water passes into a new form, 



*Loc. cit. 



