72 



DE. EUTTAN ON THE 



This table speaks for itself, and as far as it goes indicates the relative retarding power 

 of O'l % of the usual salts found after the expulsion of the carbonic acid gas from the 

 baking powders used iu the preceding experiments. This order, of course, might be 

 changed, were other ferments employed or different quantities used ; for instance, it is 

 seen that while 0.5% of Rochelle salt acts as a stimulant to the ferment, the same quantity 

 of the pulpy aluminium hydrate still retards nearly in proportion to the quantity used. 



Series II. 



-Tlie Effect of different quantities of Almn and other Aluminivm Salts on the 

 Diastufic Ferment of Saliva. 



The experiments of Series II were conducted u.uder similar conditions to those iu 

 Series I. The results would seem to indicate a destructive action towards the ferment on 

 the part of alum, while loss of diastatic power in the experiments of Series I may be due 

 either to precipitation of the proteids of the saliva by the salts, or simply to their clogging 

 action. That many neutral salts have a specific action on the digestive ferments, and do 

 not always act mechanically only, has been shewn by numerous experiments. Chittenden, 

 of Yale University, found that 0.5% of magnesium sulphate diminishes the amylolytic 

 action of saliva by 55%, while 05% of tartar-emetic (KsbOCiHiO,;) increases the amount 

 of starch converted by 68%.' This is interesting in view of the fact that Rochelle salt in 

 small quantity also acts as a mild stimulant to this diastatic ferment (see Div. C, Series 1.) 



Chittenden further found - that so small a quantity as 0.0003 % of mercuric chloride 

 (HgCL) reduces the starch converted over 20%, while 0.005 % entirely stopped amylolytic 

 action. Eccles, in a recent paper,^ has shewn that the complete gastric digestion of fibrin 

 is hindered even more by ammonium aliim than by mercuric chloride. 



' Studies from the laboratory of physiology, Yale College, 1884-85, p. 68. 



- Loc- cit- 3 Journal of Pharm. Soc, Jan. and Feb., 1887. 



