on the Proteolytic Action of Pepsin-hydrochloric Acid. 105 
Putzeys,* indeed, found that he obtained practically the same 
proteolytic action [retarding] with pepsin and hydriodic acid, as 
with potassium iodide and pepsin-hydrochloric acid. ‘The following 
results, showing the relative digestive action of pepsin with hydro- 
bromic and hydriodic acid respectively, were obtained by Putzeys. 
Digestive pro- 
HI. HBr. ducts formed. 
0°625 gram. Beas 15°86 per cent. 
0:937 ae SillFais) 
3°310 Sets : 2°33 
ahaa 0°882 gram. 26°40 
Ae 2°200 45°60 
3°309 46°60 
It is thus evident, that both hydrobromic and hydriodic acid can, 
to a certain extent, replace the hydrochloric acid of the gastric juice, 
although they are much less active than the latter acid. Moreover, 
hydrobromic acid is much more efficient than hydriodic in connec- 
tion with the ferment, for in comparatively large doses the latter 
acid will completely stop proteolytic action. As a practical result, 
Putzeys suggests, that for therapeutic purposes, potassium bromide 
and iodide should be given $ to 1 hour before meals. Our results 
are plainly in accord with Putzeys’ observations. 
The following table shows the relative influence on the proteolytic 
action of pepsin, of the various inorganic salts experimented with, 
compared with the controls, expressed as 100. 
* Jahresbericht fiir Thierchemie, 1877, 279. De l’influence de l’iodure et du bro- 
mure de potassium sur la digestion stomacale. 
TRANS. Conn. AcAD., VoL. VII. 14 Oot., 1885. 
