CHAP, vi.] PUS. 243 



Does a Whether the body obtained by Miescher from 



definite body spermatozoa be a definite body or not, there can 

 Nuciein exist? b e no question that as yet, all proof is wanting to 

 establish the proposition, that the substance composing cell nuclei 

 generally is a definite chemical individual, possessed of constant 

 composition. On the contrary, the evidence of most trustworthy 

 observers shews, that by following the processes which have been re- 

 commended for the preparation of nuclein, substances of widely 

 differing composition are obtained. 



In different samples of the nuclein of yolk of egg, Worm Miiller 1 found 

 2'2, 2-68, and 7'9p. c. of Phosphorus. In miclein from the same source 

 Miescher found 6 - 7 and 7'1 p c. In nuclein prepared from casein Lubavin 2 

 found 4'6 p.c. of P. In nuclein from pus Hoppe-Seyler found 2 '28 p.c. of 

 P. ; in that prepared from an epithelial tumour he found 3'35 p.c. In the 

 xmclein from, pus Miescher found 2*6 p.c. of P. 



The statements as to the state in which the P. exists in the so-called 

 nuclein are also discrepant. 



We must therefore agree with the conclusions of Worm Miiller, 

 and deny the existence of a definite body, Nuclein. Probably, as this 

 author surmises, the different nucleins are mixtures of organic 

 phosphorus compounds with varying quantities of proteid bodies. 



The Extractive Matters of Pus Cells soluble in water. 



Alleged It was asserted by Boedecker 3 that pus occasionally 



presence of contains, besides proteid matters proper, gelatin and 



Gelatin and chondrin. Miescher examined the aqueous extract of 



pus cells for these bodies with entirely negative results. 



Boedecker's By the name of chlorrhodinic acid Boedecker described a 



chlorrhodinic crystalline acid which he obtained from pus by the following 

 aci <l. method : The liquid is evaporated to dry ness, and the 



powdered residue is successively treated with ether, alcohol, and then with 

 water. The aqueous extract is precipitated with lead acetate, and the 

 precipitate decomposed by means of sulphuretted hydrogen and boiled in 

 alcohol. On evaporation, the alcoholic fluid deposits groups of microscopic 

 needles, mixed with some crystals of sodium chloride. The former are 

 composed of the acid, which, according to Boedecker, contains nitrogen. 

 Iodine colours it yellow, and chlorine water of a rose colour, or of a dark 

 red tint, according to the amount of acid present. These facts suggest a 

 re-examination of the subj ?ct. 



1 Worm Miiller, " Zur Kenntuiss der Nucleine." Pfliiger's Archiv, Vol. vin. (1873), 

 p. 190. 



2 Lubavin, "Ueber die kiinstliche Pepsin-Verdauung des Caseins." Hoppe-Seyler's 

 Med.-chem. Untersuchungen , p. 477. 



3 Boedecker, Zeitschriftf. rat. Med., N. F., Vol. vi. 



162 



