DIGESTION OF THE ALBUM IS S. 169 



form, and at the same time or immediately following their dissolu- 

 tion they undergo the process of denaturization i. e., they are trans- 

 formed into syntonins or acid albumins, and as a consequence all 

 individual characteristics which previously existed are lost. This 

 transformation is essentially referable to the hydrochloric acid of the 

 gastric juice, andean be brought about artificially in the absence of 

 pepsin. In such an event, however, a higher grade of acidity and a 

 higher temperature are required. The presence of the pepsin ob- 

 viates such a necessity. A possible explanation of this phenomenon 

 is afforded by the modern doctrine which teaches that the action of 

 enzymes merely consists in hastening the rapidity of reaction. 



On continued exposure to the acid gastric juice the syntonins are 

 decomposed by hydrolysis into albumoses, and finally into peptones, 

 and it is to be noted that this result also can be effected by hydro- 

 chloric acid alone ; but here again the presence of the pepsin does 

 away with the necessity of employing stronger solutions of the acid 

 and a higher temperature. 



This decomposition may be compared to the inversion of the poly- 

 saccharides to monosaccharides, and here, as there, intermediary prod- 

 ucts are formed which differ not only from the syntonins, but also 

 from each other. Kiihne and his school, who have largely contribu- 

 ted to our knowledge of these products, have suggested their divi- 

 sion into two classes, viz., the primary and secondary albumoses, 

 according to their nearer or more distant relationship to the original 

 albumins. This division has been generally accepted. Further 

 researches have shown that two distinct varieties of the primary 

 albumoses exist, namely, a proto-albumose and a hetero-albumose, 

 each of which on further decomposition is supposed to give rise to a 

 secondary albumose or deutero-albumose, from which in turn a pep- 

 tone is derived. According to Neumeister, the digestion of the native 

 albumins may accordingly be represented by the following schema : 



Native albumin. 



I . 

 Svntonin. 



Proto-albumose. Hetero-albumose. 



Deutero-albumose. Deutero-albumose. 



Peptone. Peptone. 



With the formation of peptones peptic digestion, according to 

 Kiihne, comes to an end. Supposing this to be the case, and bear- 

 ing in mind that the albuminous molecule contains certain atomic 

 groups the hemi-groups which can be readily broken down with 

 trypsin, with the formation of amido-acids, while others the anti- 

 groups are more resistant, the conclusion suggests itself that in the 

 albumoses and the peptones, which result from the action of pepsin 

 both of these groups must still be united. Such peptones Kiihne 



