902 
been obtained by adding to the above-mentioned natural coagulation- 
fluids some suitable reagent. For instance, weak acid (neutralisation) 
or a saturated neutralsalt solution (especially a saturated Nak solution). 
If alkali or acid hydrosoles, ‘made from the fibrin gel thus obtained, 
are exposed to an electric current, they will be found to behave in 
a manner entirely analogous to that of the soles mentioned before. 
How are we to account for the fibrin-secretion or coagulation 
under the action of an electric current? In my opinion the most 
obvious supposition is that the eleetrie current renders inactive the 
alkali or acid of the fibrinalkali- and acidhydrosoles ; this may be 
explained as follows : 
If | am not mistaken it is assumed that the molecules of an aqueous 
alkali-solution e.g. a weak NaOH sol. are split up when acted upon 
by an electric current, so that the ions of OH are formed at the 
anode; these are subsequently rendered inactive under the formation 
of water and oxygen. If this is correct, the alkali in a fibrinalkali- 
hydrosole, under the influence of which the fibrin is in a sole-state, 
will be rendered inactive by the anode ; it will so to speak disappear 
from the fluid, at least there. And sinee the fibrin cannot remain in 
a sole-state after alkali has been withdrawn, it will be secreted at 
the anode. It can easily be demonstrated that the part of the fluid 
which comes into contact with the positive electrode becomes much 
less alkaline, unlike that part which is in the leg of the U-tube 
containing the negative electrode. This holds good both for natural 
and for artificial fibrinalkalihydrosoles. 
If on the other hand an electric current is led through a watery 
weak acid-solution, the acid molecules are, if | have not misinter- 
preted the current views on the subject, split up into electrically 
charged atoms (ions), whilst the ions of H with their positive charge 
become electrically neutral on being brought into contact with the 
negative electrode or disappear from the fluid there. If we assume 
this view to be correct, the acid in a fibrinacidhydrosole will suffer 
an electric dissociation and then become inactive. The consequence 
will be that the fibrin can no longer remain in a solestate and will 
be excreted at the cathode. This decreased acidity of the fluid-coluinn 
whieh is in contact with the cathode can be easily demonstrated in 
the experiment. It should be noticed in passing that one gets an 
impression that the electrolytic dissociation of alkali and acid, or at 
least the disappearance of alkali and acid from the respective fluids, 
is restricted to the leg of the U-tube which contains the positive or 
negative electrode. That is to say if weak currents are applied ; if 
