[Vor. 5 
280 ANNALS OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 
of subjections to high temperature bears a more or less direct 
relation to the hydrolysis effected. 
The ultimate solution of the coagulated albumin in alkaline 
media was to be expected, but it had been hoped to obtain 
comparative data regarding the effect of the enzyme disper- 
sions before complete solution resulted,—and complete solu- 
tion occurred before the tenth day after incubation began. 
Observations at intervals of several days, however, showed no 
detectable difference in the amount of albumin dissolved by 
the alkaline water of the control and in the flasks containing 
enzyme dispersion. The results in the case of tubes in acid- 
ified water are given below. The average values given in the 
last column were obtained from the total digestion in three 
tubes in each flask. 
TABLE IV 
THE ACTION OF ENZYMES EXTRACTED FROM ETHERIZED AND UNETHERIZED 
CORMS OF GLADIOLUS ON COAGULATED ALBUMIN IN DIGESTION 
TUBES IN ACIDIFIED WATER 
Total length in mm. Average length in mm. 
Series number of albumin cylinders digested from 6 ends of 
igeste cylinders 2 mm. in diam. 
COMTO кк Дева Not measurable | ~..... 
КОСЕК УКТУГ қ 0.333 
Г vm UU Not measurable |... 
ОВ C PCI qe qe А 2.083 
СР ЗАБАВЕН Not measurable | Поп... 
99 ТТТ” А 0.083 
ы» ПРЕТОР Not measurable | . | ..... 
op OTT : 0.916 
Па а eee Not measurable | . |  ..... 
The relative reactions of the dispersions are here exactly 
the reverse of those occurring in neutral or alkaline solutions 
of albumin. While there has been some action on the part 
of all enzyme mixtures not previously autoclaved, the activity 
of those from the two lots of unetherized tissues has been not- 
ably greater than of those from etherized corms. The results 
are not readily explained. If the acidity of the medium were 
in itself the inhibiting factor, an inhibition of both dispersions 
might be looked for. It would seem, therefore, as if the mix- 
ture of enzyme and protein extracted from the etherized tis- 
sues differed chemically from that obtained from the control 
