and Laboratory Methods. 14'i7 



The second paper deals with the question of how a drug acts on the cell, that 

 is, whether by merely changing the physical condition of cell or tissue, or by 

 forming new chemical compounds with the cell constituents. The method of 

 attacking the problem was to examine the eggs, and finally the tissues of hens 

 that had been given regularly certain doses of potassium iodide, in order to deter- 

 mine whether any actual combination of iodine with the cell substance had taken 

 place. In the analysis of the eggs only iodides were found ; that is, no iodopro- 

 teids had been formed. Analysis of all the principal tissues of the body gave 

 the same result, so that it appears that the drug does not act by forming new 

 chemical compounds. 



The third paper in the series deals with the question of whether the proteid 

 material is taken up from the digestive tract by the blood or by the lymph. The 

 method employed was to inject into a ligated portion of the alimentary tract a 

 certain amount of an artificially prepared iodoproteid. After some time the 

 lymph of the animal was collected and tests for iodoproteid were made. In the 

 eight experiments no iodoproteid compounds were found in the lymph, the work 

 thus tending to confirm the old view that the proteids are absorbed by the blood. 



The fourth paper describes some of the chemical changes which take place 

 in the developing egg, the point of view being that, since in the process of devel- 

 opment assimilation is greatly in excess of dissimilation, a chemical study of the 

 egg at different stages ought to furnish a good opportunity for the working out 

 of the synthetic processes in the metabolism of the organism. As material, cod- 

 fish eggs were used. The results of analyses of eggs at different stages of devel- 

 opment seem to indicate that the process of synthesis is preceded by decomposi- 

 tion, since immediately after fertilization the proteids decrease in quantity and 

 basic nitrogenous substances are formed. Later the proteids grow in quantity and 

 complexity. The amount of mineral salts in the egg increases with development. 



The last paper in the series is a preliminary communication in regard to a 

 technical point with reference to the relation or possible identity of colloid, 

 mucoid and amyloid substances. r. p. 



CURRENT BACTERIOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 



H. W. Conn. 



Separates of papers and books on bacteriology should be sent for review to 

 H. W. Conn, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. 



Buchner. Immunitat. Hyg. Rund. 11: 301, The dispute between the chemical and 



biological theory of immunity has been, 

 in the last few years, carried on largely by the two leaders, Buchner and 

 Metschnikoff, the former holding to the chemical theory of immunity, and the 

 latter being the leading exponent of the biological theory. It has been evident 

 that the two schools have, in recent years, been rapidly coming together, each of 

 them admitting certain conclusions of the opposing school. In an address 

 recently given by Buchner this harmony of the views is distinctly stated, and 



