274 



ACTION OF CARBOLIC ACID 



several times, this experiment always gave the same 

 result, but when the yeast was merely washed with 

 water, it readily induced fermentation." 



In order to determine whether the tar acids were 

 influenced in the same manner as certain well known 

 chemical bodies which are supposed to act by fer- 

 mentation, " a solution of diastase (infusion of malt,) 

 was mixed with thick starch paste and one per cent, 

 solution of carbolic acid. On gently heating for a 

 short time, the starch was converted into dextrine as 

 completely as if no carbolic acid had been present." 



" Amygdalin was* mixed with synaptase (emulsion 

 of sweet almonds) in the presence of carbolic acid ; 

 the formation of the essential oil took place with 

 apparently the same readiness as if carbolic acid had 

 been absent." These results show that carbolic acid 

 exerts no influence whatever on purely chemical fer- 

 ments, which, as in the case of those above employed, 

 consist of definite nitrogenous compounds, and act 

 simply by chemical affinity, and cannot therefore come 

 into the same category with true ferments, which are 

 living bodies bioplasts. They also go far to prove 

 that carbolic acid attacks the vitality of the bioplasmic 

 matter of the ferment in some peculiar way, exerting 

 no interfering action where an effect is due merely to 

 the so-called catalytic action. Moreover, tested in 

 other ways, it was rendered probable that carbolic 

 acid acted directly upon the living growing matter. 



Action of Carbolic Acid on other living organisms. 



