47 
ature coefficient of coagulation of proteins by water is an exceedingly 
high one compared with effect of temperature on most chemical 
reactions. In the majority of instances the reaction velocity is increased 
about 1.1 times for 1° C. i. e. 2 to 3 times for a rise of temperature 
of 10°. Even the biological processes of germination of seeds, respira- 
tion of plants and growth of bacteria fall within this range. 
On the other hand many reactions in which complex protein bodies 
are concerned have been shown to possess high temperature coefficients 
which are comparable with those obtained for heat coagulation. The 
destruction of emulsin by heat has according to TamMmann (Zeit. 
Phys. Chem. 1895) a temperature coefficient of about 7.14 for a 10° 
rise between 60° and 70°. Bavyriss (1908) found the action of 
trypsin to be hastened 5—3 times for some germs in accordance 
with a logarithmic law. Baitinev (1902) found the disinfection of 
anthrax spores by steam to take place from 9 to 11 times more 
quickly by raising the temperature 10° and the law of ARRHENIUS 
is equally applicable to his results. 
Cuick and Martin (loc. cit) have shown that the disinfection of 
vegetative forms of bacteria with phenol and other coal-tar derivatives 
has a temperature coefficient of 8 to 10 for a 10° rise of temperature. 
On the other hand the disinfection by Silver Nitrate and Mercurie 
Chloride has a much lower coefficient and that is about 2. 
The high temperature coefficient for the coagulation of egg albumen 
has a counterpart in that for the velocity of destruction by hot 
water of the haemolysins in vibriolysins, tetanolysin and goat serum. 
MapseN and his collaborators found the influence of temperature to 
be in accordance with the law of ARRHeNius and the velocity of 
this reaction to be doubled if the temperature were raised 1° C. 
They also showed that the action of hot water upon some agglutinins 
to be similarly influenced by temperature. 
This marked influence of temperature is extremely useful for men 
and animals. When a toxin enters the system, the temperature of 
the body rises by two or three degrees and we get the phenomenon 
of fever and the poison is destroyed about 10 or 20 times more 
quickly at this fever temperature. 
Hartrivgs (Jour. of Physiol. 1912, Vol. XLIV, 34) finds the temp- 
erature coefficient for heat coagulation to be as great as 726 for a 
10° rise for some protein matter. In this connection it is interesting 
to note that the decomposition of sulphur trioxide by heat has 419 
for its temperature coefficient for a 10° rise at about 30°. 
Watson (Jour. Hygiene 1908, 8, 536) applying Ostwatp’s isolation 
method to Miss Cuick’s results finds that in the disinfection of certain 
