AMYLOID. 169 



not, contrary to NEUBERG, behave like a histone. The quantity of 

 hexone bases was not greater than in the proteins from normal organs. 

 This amyloid protein yielded, like the amyloid degenerated tissues, 

 some histone-peptone, and he claims that we have no foundation for the 

 assumption that the amyloid protein has histone-like characteristics 

 or is rich in bases. Under these circumstances it must be remarked 

 that the following statements apply only to the results of older investiga- 

 tions. 



The amyloid prepared by KRAWKOW and NEUBERG had about the 

 same composition: C 49.0-50.1; H 7-7.2; N 14-14.1, and S 1.8-2.8 

 per cent. The aorta amyloid of man and of the horse contained respec- 

 tively C 49.6 and 50.5; H 7.2; N 14.4 and 13.8; S 2.3 and 2.5 per cent. 

 According to NEUBERG, aorta amyloid differs from spleen and liver 

 amyloid by a different division of the nitrogen, which is evident from the 

 following : 



Monamiiio-N. Diamino-N. Amide-N. 



Liver amyloid 43.2 51.2 4.9 



Spleen amyloid 30.6 57.0 11.2 



Aorta amyloid. 54.9 36.0 8.8 



From liver amyloid NEUBERG obtained glycocoll 0.8; leucine 22.2; 

 glutamic acid 3.8; tyrosine 4.0; proline 3.1; arginine 13.9, and lysine 

 11.6 per cent. 



By the action of alkali, amyloid splits into protein and chondroitin- 

 sulphuric acid (see Chapter X), and according to KRAWKOW it is there- 

 fore a firm, perhaps ester-like combination of this acid with protein. 

 The protein, from the investigations of NEUBERG, is of a basic nature 

 and most comparable to the histones. According to NEUBERG, amyloid 

 is a transformation product of the proteins, just as are the protamines, 

 and the differences between liver, spleen, and aorta amyloid indicate 

 various phases of this transformation. 



Amyloid is an amorphous white substance, insoluble in water, alcohol, 

 ether, dilute hydrochloric and acetic acids. It is soluble in concentrated 

 hydrochloric acid or caustic alkali with decomposition. On boiling with 

 dilute hydrochloric acid it yields sulphuric acid and a reducing substance. 

 It is not dissolved by gastric juice, according to KRAWKOW, which agrees 

 with most of the older reports. It is nevertheless changed so that 

 it is soluble in dilute ammonia, while the typical amyloid is insoluble 

 therein. NEUBERG finds on the contrary that amyloid (from liver) 

 is digested by pepsin as well as by trypsin, although more slowly than 

 fibrin, and that it is also destroyed in autolysis, so that in life an absorp- 

 tion is possible. The amyloid from the " sago " spleen studied by HANS- 

 SEN showed the same behavior with gastric juice as KRAWKOW found, 

 while trypsin, as well as autolysis for months, was without action. 



