202 PROTEIN POISONS 



do not detach the poisonous group. We have obtained 

 poisonous substances from the anthrax bacillus by two 

 methods. The substances thus obtained differ physically, 

 chemically, and physiologically. The one obtained by the 

 action of 1 per cent, sulphuric acid is insoluble in alcohol 

 and doos not give the distinctive protein reactions. The 

 one obtained by cleavage of the bacterial cell with a 2 per 

 cent, solution of sodium hydroxide in absolute alcohol is 

 soluble in alcohol and does give the biuret and Millon 

 reactions. The former kills only after some hours, and 

 leaves marked pathological changes. The other kills in a 

 few minutes and leaves no gross alterations. This, however, 

 does not prove that the poisonous group in the two prepara- 

 tions is not the same. It may be that in the one the poisonous 

 group is still closely attached to other groups, and energetic 

 measures may be necessary to tear it off, and as a result 

 of this the injury done to the body cells and recognized 

 at autopsy may be due. In the other preparation the 

 poisonous group is already detached, and consequently 

 its effects are manifest immediately. On the other hand, 

 our work does not show that the poisonous group in the 

 two preparations is the same. It leaves this question quite 

 undetermined. As we have stated elsewhere, there is 

 probably in the protein molecule a whole spectrum of 

 poisons, one derivable from the other, a chain of poisonous 

 groups, one differing from the one next it by having one 

 more or one less link. There is at present no more impor- 

 tant and no more difficult subject than that of the chemistry 

 of the protein molecule. The researches of Fischer have 

 done much to show some features of the structure of the 

 protein molecule. We know, as a result of Fischer's work, 

 that proteins are to be regarded as polymers or condensa- 

 tion products of the amino acids, but between the native 

 protein and the amino acids into which it may be split, 

 there is a long list of intermediary products about which 

 we know practically nothing. The ordinary, native proteins 

 are not primarily poisons. The amino-acids which result 

 from their ultimate cleavage are not poisonous, but between 



