( 007 ) 



salic'iii solution ;iii(l 1 <ir;im of ii'lncosc \v;is diliilcd willi a I "/n 

 Sciligeninsolutioii up lo 50 cc; tlie 0.005 orain of saiiciii prcsoit 

 could be dolectod in llie niaiiiiei' described. (Ireat cjire miisl lx; hiken 

 to ensiii-e the coniplele i-einoxal of the sali.iieiiiii, as this also gives 

 a red coloration with strong H.^SO^. 



T think these experiments warrant the coiiclusion that the 

 resolution of saccharose bv invertase niav be proi)ai)lv considered 

 as an equilibriuni reaction and that this is tolerably certain in 

 the case of the action of eniulsin on salicin. 



As regards the last reaction, Tammann had como to the conclusion 

 that, although incomplete, it is not however a limited reaction, as 

 the limit did not undergo retrogression on adding the products of 

 decomposition. Tammann however has not worked with sterile 

 solutions so that, as others have already observed, his experiments 

 are Jiot conclusi^•e. Moreover, the figures found by Tammann for 

 the concentration in the condition of ecpiilibrium at 0^ and 25° 

 differ not inconsiderably from ni}^ own. 



2. Dynamical researches as to the action of enzymes have soon 

 shown that certain decompositions do not proceed in such a simj)le 

 manner as in the case where acids are employed. Although 

 O'Suj.LiVAN and Tompson iirst believed that the hydrolytic resolution 

 of saccharose by invertase is represented by the same simple 

 formula (for reactions of the tirst order) as that for the same 

 reaction by H-ions, Tammann and Duclaux have demonstrated that 

 such is by no means the case. This has been confirmed by subsequent 

 researches particularly by those of Henri. The reactioncoeflicient of the 

 system saccharose -|- invertase calculated according to the logarithmic 

 formula ai>peared to increase ; for the system salicin -[- emulsin it 

 api)eared to decrease with the lime. So Tammann c(nnes to the 

 conclusion that the enzymes do not conform to the same la>\ s as 

 the inorganic catalyzers and that these laws will not readily be 

 traced, aiid Duclaux is of opinion that the laws of physical chemistry 

 do not apply at all to enzym actions. 



As the dynamic investigation of the action of ferments had only 

 just commenced, these conclusions could hai'dly be accepted as lliial. 

 The exhaustive researches published in D)OI i)y Victor Hknki ') 

 and afterwards continned ') have indeed i)roved that the course of 

 ferment actions may decidedly be ex[)ressed by a fornnda. It has 

 already l)een observed that the resolution of saccharose by invei'tase 

 proceeds more rapidly than is expressed by the formida for reactions 



1) Z. pliys. ell. :V.). ]*)i (1901). 



2) Lois générales de faclion des diasases. Theses, Paris, Février 1903. 



