Uranium Salts on Ferment Action. Np 
With the exception of ammonio uranic citrate, the four last salts 
experimented with, show about the same degree of inhibitory action; 
the citrate, however, appears less pronounced in its action than the 
others. As to the manner in which the uranium salts retard the 
proteolytic action of the pancreatic ferment, it is probable that the 
main explanation is to be found in the power possessed by the former 
of combining with proteid matter in general; combining with 
and rendering indigestible the albuminous material added to the 
digestive mixture and perhaps precipitating, or even destroying, the 
ferment itself. Further, the reason why certain salts appear less 
active than others is perhaps to be found in the fact that in the pre- 
cipitation of albuminous matter by uranium salts, the uranium com- 
bines directly with the proteid matter, thus liberating the acid of 
the salt; and as trypsin is inactive in the presence of free mineral 
acids, and only partially active in the presence of combined acids 
(combined with proteids), it follows that an organic salt, such as 
a citrate, would naturally be less active as a retarding agent, than 
the nitrate or sulphate. 
The following table shows the relative retardation of the various 
salts expressed in terms of relative proteolytic action: 
TABLE SHOWING RELATIVE PROTEOLYTIC ACTION. 
Percentage of Salts__.-._._-__---- 0-01 0-025 0-05 0-1 0:5 
Uranyl nitrates: =... 22-4 aes 94:3 92-4 82-0 70°6 0 
Wranyl acetate... = -20..-222222 93°8 18-7 67.7 31°6 0 
Wranyisculphate......5..22--22-- 98:8 80:1 63°3 30°8 0 
Ammonio uranous sulphate------ 99°77. 96-4 86°6 72:9 0 
Sodio uranic sulphate-.-----.------- 97°4 94:8 89°5 82:1 0 
Ammonio uranic citrate_--------- 83°8 |. 78:0 559 37°8 | 46°8 
Potassio uranic oxychloride------- 95-4 82:8° |, -715;9 50:8 0 
It is thus seen that uranium salts, in the main, like most other 
metallic salts, exert a decided retarding influence on the action of the 
digestive ferments. 
Trans. Conn. Acap., Vou. VII. 35 Nov., 1886. 
