270 



CHONDRIN. 



[BOOK i. 



solutions of gelatin. They are precipitated by the following reagents 

 which have no such action when added to solutions of gelatin : 

 acetic acid, the precipitate being insoluble in excess of the pre- 

 cipitant, but soluble if some alkaline salt be added ; solutions of 

 alum, the precipitate being soluble in excess of the reagent ; solutions 

 of silver nitrate and copper sulphate, the precipitates being soluble in 

 excess of the reagents ; solution of lead acetate, the precipitate not 

 soluble in excess. Solutions of chondrin have been said to be 

 rendered only slightly turbid by mercuric chloride and by tannic 

 acid. The Author is inclined to rely on the very positive statement of 

 J. Miiller that these reagents exert the same action on chondrin 

 as on gelatin. 



Elementary Very great discrepancies exist between the results 



composition o f various analyses of this assumed chemical individual, 

 as will be observed by a study of the following Table. 



COMPOSITION OF CHONDRIN. 



of Chondrin. 



The following table exhibits the relative composition of gelatin, 

 chondrin and mucin, according to the analyses which appear to be 

 most trustworthy. 



Products of When finely divided cartilage is boiled with dilute 



decom- hydrochloric or sulphuric acids there is formed a body 



position of resembling acid albumin, and a substance which pos- 

 Chondrin. sesses a sweet taste and reducing properties analogous 



to those of true sugars \ This body has been termed Chondri-glucose. 



1 Fischer und Boedeker, "Kiinstliche Bildung von Zucker aus Knorpel (Chondro- 

 gen), &c." Ann ale. n der Chemie und Pharm., Vol. cxvu. (1861), p. 111. 



