90 DBOSEEA BOTr^T)IFOLIA. Chap. YI. 



10 cub. cent were measnred ont and evaporated, and dried at 

 110' as before. The residues were resi)ectiyelv— 



*' In the liqnid containing hydrochloric acid 04079 



„ „ propionic acid 0-0601 



butyric acid 0-1468 



„ „ valerianic acid 0-1254 



" Hence, deducting from each of these the above-mentioned 

 residue, left when the digestive liquid itself was evaporated, 

 viz. 0-0031, we have, 



" For propionic acid 0-0570 



„ butyric acid 01437 



„ valerianic acid . . . . . . . . 0-1223 



as compared with 0-4043 for hydrochloric acid; these several 

 numbers expressing the quantities of fibrin by weight digested 

 in presence of equivalent quantiti^ of the respective acids 

 under identical conditions, 



" The results of the experiment may be stated thus : — If 100 

 represent the digestive power of a Hquid containing pepsin with 

 the usual proportion of hydrochloric acid, 14-0, 35'4, and 30*2, 

 will represent respectively the digestive powers of the three 

 acids under investigation. 



" 5. In a second experiment in which the procedure was in 

 every respect the same, excepting that all the tubes were 

 plunged into the same water-bath, and the residues dried at 

 115^ C, the results were as follows : — 



" Quantity of fibrin dissolved in four hours by 10 cub. cent, 

 of the Uquid — 



" Propionic acid 0-0563 



Butyric acid 0-0S35 



Yalerianic acid .. .. .. 0-0615 



"The quantity digested by a similar liquid containing 

 hydrochloric acid was 0-3376. Hence, taking this as 100, the 

 following numbers represent the relative quantities digested 

 by the other acids : 



" Propionic acid .. .. .. 165 



Butyric acid 247 



Yalerianic acid 16-1 



" 6. A third experiment of the same kind gave : 



