1864 Journal of Applied Microscopy 



ineffective on the starfish spermatozoa. The normal serum of the rabbit was 

 found to be antitoxic to this toxin of the egg. The chemical relations of these 

 toxins of the eggs and other tissues of the body are very thoroughly worked out, 

 and many interesting and important details are presented, of which space will 

 not permit mention here. 



The third paper is by Dr. Hans Friedenthal and is entitled, " Ueber die 

 Reaktion des Blutserum der Wirbeltiere und die Reaktion der lebendigen Sub- 

 stanz in allgemeinen." 



The fourth paper, " Inanitionserscheinungen der Zelle. Untersuchungen an 

 Protozoen," by Hans Wallengren, is the longest in the number. The author de- 

 scribes very carefully and in great detail the changes which take place in Para- 

 mecia subjected to the process of starving. He found that after food supply had 

 been withdrawn the organism lived at the expense of its own substance, using up 

 first the endosarc, next the structures of the ectosarc, and finally the macronu- 

 cleus. 



Twenty pages of the number are devoted to reviews of current literature, a 

 " Sammelreferat " under the title, " Alte und neue Vorstellungen iiber das Wesen 

 der Nervenleitung," being contributed by Prof. H. Boruttau. 



Altogether the " Zeitschrift " is to be most cordially welcomed, and wished 

 " all success " in its career. r. p. 



Loevenhart, A. S. On the Relation of Lipase ^lastle and Loevenhart demonstrated 



to Fat Metabolism— Lipogenesis. Amer. some time ago that the ferment lipase 



Jour. Physiol. 6: 331-350, 1902. . ., , . . ^. . ^, ^ .. 



■^ oj jj > y jg reversible m its action, 1. e., that it 



is not only capable of splitting fat into a fatty acid and glycerine, but will also 

 cause the recombination of these sarne two substances to form again fat. Loe- 

 venhart believes that in this reversible action of lipase is to be found the ex- 

 planation of many hitherto very puzzling phenomena connected with the absorp- 

 tion, storing up, and utilization of fat in the organism. The enzyme is found 

 to occur normally in all the organs which were tested for it, but most notably 

 in the liver, active mammary gland, blood, lymph and intestinal mucosa. The 

 author believes that the fat is taken up by cells of the intestinal mucosa in solu- 

 tion, is partially synthesized within the cell, but leaves it again to pass into the 

 form of a solution. Fat is constantly being broken down and built up in the in- 

 testinal epithelial cell, the lipase establishing and constantly renewing an equi- 

 librium of fat, fatty acid and glycerine. The fat appears to be carried in the 

 blood and lymph in the form of free fatty acid, rather than as a soap. The 

 storing up of fat in the tissues where it is found is brought about by the synthe- 

 sising action of lipase. The author's argument is well developed and supported 

 in all points by experimental evidence ; it seems to afford such a rational expla- 

 nation of fat metabolism as has for a long time been greatly desired. 



R. p. 



