50 Notes from the Physiological Laboratory 



tritive value of branny and other foods, based upon 

 the percentage of nitrogen present, must be received 

 with caution. 



(6) The term "gluten -cell" is, through a wide- 

 spread misapprehension, applied to the cells consti- 

 tuting the fourth layer (Parkes) of the wheat-grain. 

 These cellular elements exist usually in a single 

 stratum, as irregularly cuboidal bodies in each of 

 which, surrounded by a dense and laminated cellu- 

 lose wall, is seen the semi-opaque granular contents. 

 Upon the addition of reagents, especially in the form 

 of caustic alkaline solutions, there is almost con- 

 stantly noticeable a differentiation of the contents 

 strongly suggesting the presence of a nucleus. 

 Under these conditions, also, a coalescence of many 

 of the individual granules forming the contents oc- 

 curs with the formation of several highly refractive 

 spheroidal bodies, an appearance which has led 

 Payen (as quoted by Dr. Richardson) to use the 

 name ole"ifres as a synonyme for the cellular constit- 

 uents of the fourth coat. The hypothesis that the 

 cells of this layer are the chief gluten-bearers of the 

 wheat-grain is usually attributed to Donders. 1 The 



1 Nederl, Lancet, iv. 739; vi. 227, 244. Third series, vol 

 i. 377. 



