188 A. J. Etvart: 



investigation. For it to be able to act as a polymeriser in the* 

 plant, it must act in ferment fashion without itself being altered 

 or brought permanently into different combination. That is the- 

 polymerising action must differ Midely from that of alkalies on for- 

 maldehyde and its polymers. 



(8) If photosynthesis involves an actual combination of chloro- 

 phyll and carbon dioxide, which combination is distintegrated by 

 light into chlorophyll and carbohydrate, hexoses would be formed 

 as readily directly as through the intervention of biose and the- 

 chlorophyll would act as a lytase or carboxidase enzyme.* Its mode 

 of action in producing glycollic aldehyde would also be that of ara 

 enzyme. 



* Proc. Royal Soc. of Vict. 191S, Vol. xxx. p. 20S. 



