84 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE INVERTEBRATA. 



(a) The secretion forms an emulsion with oils yielding 

 subsequently fatty acids and glycerol. 



(h) The secretion decomposes stearin, with the formation 

 of stearic acid and glycerol — 



C„H„,0, 4- 3 HP = 3 C,,-R,,0, + C.Up,. 



(c) The secretion acts upon starch paste with the formation 

 of dextrose. The presence of dextrose was proved by the 

 formation of brownish-red cuprous oxide, with Fehling's 

 solution. 



{d) The secretion dissolves coagulated albumin (hard white 

 of egg). 



(e) Tannic acid gives a white precipitate with the secretion. 



(/) When a few drops of the secretion of the pyloric cajca 

 are examined chemico-microscopically, the following re- 

 actions are observed : — On running in, bet\?een the slide and 

 cover-glass, a solution of iodine in potassium iodide, a brown 

 deposit is obtained ; and on running in concentrated nitric 

 acid upon another slide containing the secretion, yellow 

 xanthoproteic acid is readily formed. These reactions show 

 the presence of albumin in the secretion of the organ in 

 question. 



{g) The presence of albumin in the secretion was further 

 confirmed by the excellent tests of Dr. R. Palm.* 



(li) The soluble enzyme or ferment secreted by the cells of 

 the pyloric casca was extracted by the Wittich-Kistiakowsky 

 method. t The isolated ferment converted fibrin (from the 

 muscles of a young mouse) into leucin and tyrosin. 



(i) The albumins in the secretion are not converted into 

 taurocholic and glycocholic acids ; for not the slightest traces 

 of these biliaiy acids could be detected by the Pettenkofer 

 and other tests. 



(j) No glycogen was found in the organ {i.e., the caeca) or its 

 secretion. 



From these investigations, which have been repeated on 



* Zehschrift filr Anahjtisclie Chemie, vol. 24, pt. i. 

 t Pflugers Archiv fur Phi/siologie, vol. 9, pp. 438-459. 



