82 Chittenden and Painter—Influence of Therapeutic 
that the percentage of mercuric chloride was 0:0005, only 2°0 per 
cent. of the starch was converted, while the same quantity of saliva, 
in the presence of the same amount of mercury salt (0°0005 per cent.) 
converted 19°69 per cent. of starch. 
Working with larger amounts of saliva, the following results were 
obtained : 
Ar B. C. 
OV eee we eee 10 c.c. 10 ¢. ¢. 10. cc. 
[nL O Sut 5 us 8 ie apd ee 16 15 15 
Hic Ci soln ee ose ss 0 1 1 
26 26 26 
Percent, ie Clas == 0 0°002 0-002 
B was warmed at 40° C, for 15 minutes and C for 30 minutes; then 
1 c. c. of the mercuric chloride solution was added to A, and all three 
diluted and mixed with starch paste. The three solutions were now 
exactly alike; all contained the same percentage of mercury salt 
(0°0005 per cent.) but B and C had been previously warmed with 
the salt for 15 and 30 minutes respectively. A, converted 31°32 per 
cent. of the starch, B 29°48 per cent. and C 27:97 per cent. Here 
we have what appears to be a gradual decrease in amylolytic power, 
but it does not seem sufficiently pronounced to account for the action 
of the mercury salt. It would appear rather, in this instance, as if the 
mercuric chloride exercised a selective action, combining with the 
proteid matter of the saliva, leaving the ferment free; but the mer- 
cury-proteid compound, being apparently possessed of some destruc- 
tive action, exerts its influence, and thus the gradual decrease of 
amylolytic power noticed in B and C. 
In the previous experiments, on the other hand, where /ree mer- 
curic chloride is present, there not being sufficient albumin to com- 
bine with all of the mercury, there is apparently destructive action. 
Experiments of like nature as the preceding, tried with cupric 
sulphate, gave the following results: 
A. B. C D. 
Saliva ose eee os = 2 G.C, 2 Cle 22GNG, 2ac¢ 
HOM Sse ee ore 18 17°8 17°8 17°8 
CuSO.s0l- sess: 0 072 0-2 0:2 
20 20°0 20°0 20°0 
Per cent. CuSO,--. 0 0-0005 0:0005 0°0005 
B was warmed at 40° C. for 15 minutes, C for 30 minutes and D 
for 1 hour; 0:2 ¢.c. of the cupric sulphate solution was then added 
to A and lastly starch paste and water to 100 c.c. The amylolytic 
ee 
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