V.— INFLUENCE OF CERTAIN THERAPEUTIC AND Toxic AGENTS ON 
THE AMYLOLYTIC ACTION OF Sativa. By R. H. CuHItrENDEN AND 
H. M. Patnrer, B.A., Pu.B. 
Frew attempts have been made to ascertain, experimentally, the 
influence of therapeutic and toxic substances on amylolytic action. 
Yet in view of the important part which the ferment of saliva plays 
in the digestive processes of the body and in view likewise of the ~ 
great susceptibility of the ferment, it would seem especially desirable 
to obtain accurate data regarding the effects of many substances on 
its amylolytic power. 
While many laborious investigations have, from time to time, been 
undertaken to ascertain the influence of some one or more substances 
on the metabolism of the body, the influence of the same sub- 
stances on the digestive processes has apparently been very little 
considered, with the exception, however, of the more common 
alkali and alkali-earth salts. Likewise too, the possible action 
of many toxic substances on the digestive processes, as in chronic 
cases of poisoning, has with a few exceptions been almost entire- 
ly ignored; yet in both of these instances it is possible that much 
light might be obtained by a knowledge of the influence of individual 
substances upon proteolytic and amylolytic action.* 
With these thoughts in mind, the present investigation was under- 
taken, and the results which we present here plainly show the import- 
ance of the work. 
In selecting substances for study, we have chosen not only those 
noted for therapeutic or toxie power, but also those possessed of 
antiseptic or germicidal properties ; our object being to see how far 
the unformed ferment of the saliva corresponds, in its behavior 
* An interesting table of comparisons by Wernitz shows the relative action of 
several therapeutic agents, on the various enzymes of physiological interest—Brun- 
ton’s Pharmacology, p. 86. 
| A difference in action by the same substance upon formed and unformed ferments 
is, asstated by Brunton, a fact of great importance, for upon it may depend a useful 
application of the substance in medicine ; thus creosote, which has but a slight action 
upon pepsine and ptyaline, will kill bacteria in a dilution of 1 to 1000, and thus this 
agent can be used to arrest fermentation in the stomach depending on the presence of 
low organisms, while the proteolytic action of the digestive ferment is but little 
interfered with.—Brunton, p, 87, 
