XVI.—ON THE DEHYDRATION OF GLUCOSE IN THE STOMACH AND 
IntTesTINEsS. By R. H. CuHirrenpen. 
In a series of interesting communications* “ On the physiology of 
the carbohydrates in the animal system,” Dr. F. W. Pavy has 
brought forward evidence to show that glucose, generally considered 
as the final product of amylolytic action, can be converted within the 
animal body into a product of less cupric oxide-reducing power ; 
that there exists particularly in the stomach and intestines of rabbits, 
a ferment which has a dehydrating action upon glucose or dextrose, 
transforming it into a body akin to maltose in reducing power. 
‘Hitherto, it has been generally supposed that the transformations 
which carbohydrates undergo in the animal system are in the nature 
of gradual hydration changes, in which each step forward toward 
the final product is attended with the formation of bodies of in- 
creased cupric oxide-reducing power. Dr. Pavy’s results, however, 
would tend to show that transformations in the opposite direction do 
occur and this notably in the stomach and intestines of rabbits. 
Dr. Pavy’s conclusions concerning this dehydration of glucose in 
the animal system, are based upon changes in the cupric oxide-reduc- 
ing power of the carbohydrate, after contact with portions of the 
stomach and intestines for short periods of time at 48°8° C. Itisa 
well known fact that the reducing power of pure glucose is not 
affected by boiling with dilute sulphuric acid, while under like treat- 
ment, maltose and similar bodies are readily converted into glucose 
or into a body of like cupric oxide-reducing power. 
Dr. Pavy finds, as the result of a large number of experiments, 
that a solution of glucose or grape sugar, by mere contact with the 
stomach and intestines of a rabbit at 48°8° C. is changed into a body 
of less cupric-oxide reducing power, and that by boiling with dilute 
sulphuric acid this product is carried back again into glucose. Thus, 
in one experiment, 0°138 gram of glucose in contact with strips of 
stomach from a rabbit for one hour and a half at 48°8° C. showed, 
after removal of the dissolved albumin by boiling with sodium sul- 
phate, a reducing power calculated to the entire amount equivalent 
to only 0:080 gram of glucose; while after boiling with dilute sul- 
* Chemical News, 1884, vol. xlix, pages 128, 140, 155, 162, 172 and 183. 
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