288 Report of the Chemical Department of the 



enzymes, as pepsin, trypsin and erepsin, on nucleic acids of animal 

 origin, came to the conclusion that the structure of these bodies 

 was but little disturbed by the action of these enzymes. 



Our results bring us to the conclusion that during germination 

 there is a proteolysis of nucleo-proteids with formation of more 

 soluble mobile nucleins and nucleic acids, but not a transforma- 

 tion of the organic phosphorus into the inorganic. 



In conclusion, w-e wish to express to Dr. Jordan, at whose 

 instigation this work was undertaken as preliminary to studies on 

 phosphorus and sulphur metabolism in animals, and to Dr. Van 

 Slyke, our sincere thanks for their constant interest and many 

 helpful suggestions. 



COMMENTS. 

 The results herewith reported are the outcome of a research 

 which was necessarily preliminary to a proposed extended study 

 of the metabolism of phosphorus in the animal bodv, and the facts 

 presented can but be regarded as an important contrilnition to 

 our knowledge of the chemistry of foods used by domestic ani- 

 mals. Some of the most important bodies involved in animal 

 nutrition are the proteid compounds containing phosphorus. 

 Such compounds are fundamentally related to the growth of new 

 tissue. Moreover milk and eggs, two human foods of animal 

 origin, important connncrcially and nutritively, are abundantly 

 supplied with nucleo-proteids (phosphorus-bearing proteids) the 

 source of which, directly or indirectly, is the food of the cow and 

 hen. Several inquiries naturally arise in tliis connection: What 

 proportions of these bodies are found in feeding stufifs and to what 

 extent do feeding stufifs dififer in this respect? Are these com- 

 pounds synthesized in the animal body or must they be supplied 

 by the food ready for use in growth or in the formation of milk 

 and eggs ? Starting with the prevailing understanding that some 

 part of the phosphorus in plant substance exists in inorganic com- 

 binations, it was not unreasonable to suppose that the proportions 



