IONS AND SALT ACTION. 73 



contrary, HEDIN could not obtain free trypsin from trypsin neutralized 

 with native seralbumin, by treatment with very dilute acetic acid, 

 although the acid was shown by special experiments to be able to destroy 

 the binding properties of the seralbumin. 1 



Recently a third manner of considering the toxin-antitoxin reaction 

 has been presented which is based on the fact that the reaction takes 

 place in a heterogeneous system. According to this the reaction is con- 

 sidered as an adsorption process, and in support of this assumption, sev- 

 eral examples can be given where finely divided solids or colloid sub- 

 stances take up toxins or enzymes and indeed, in an irreversible manner 



(NERNST, 2 BlLTZ, 3 LANDSTEINER 4 ) . 



V. IONS AND SALT ACTION. 



We have already mentioned various processes which depend upon 

 the influence of ions. To these belong the precipitation of suspension 

 colloids by electrolytes as well as different catalytic processes. That 

 in the last case we are dealing with the action of ions is proven by the 

 fact that the velocity coefficient is proportional to the concentration 

 of a certain kind of ion. Nevertheless it has been shown, that the 

 velocity coefficient in the inversion of cane-sugar, by acid, is only propor- 

 tional to the H ions when dilute acids are used. With greater concen- 

 tration disturbances occur which can be ascribed to the action of the 

 negative ions of the acids. The catalytic processes can be influenced 

 by salts in a similar manner (salt action). 



The enzyme action has shown itself proportional to the quantity of enzyme 

 in certain cases. EULER 5 has attempted to show a correspondence between 

 ion-action and enzyme action by the assumption that the enzymes cause an 

 increase in those ions, which, could cause the reaction without the presence of the 

 enzyme. 



Many enzymotic processes are influenced by the presence of salts 

 of the alkalies or alkaline earths. According to BIERRY, GIAJA and HENRI 

 as well as PRETI 6 pancreatic juice dialyzed for a long time has no action 

 upon starch, but becomes active again on adding 'NaCl or other salts. 

 According to WOHLGEMUTH 7 the diastatic power of saliva is increased 

 ten-fold by the addition of NaCl. The anions are the active part in these 

 cases. The strong retarding action which NaFl exerts upon the enzy- 



1 Bioch. Journ., 1, 479, 1906; Zeitschr. f. physiol. Chem., 50, 497, 1907. 



2 Zeitschr. f. Elektrochem., 10, 379, 1904. 



3 Ber. d. d. Chem. Gesellsch., 37, 3147, 1904; Beitr. z. exp. Therapie, 1, 30, 1905. 



4 Zeitschr. f. Chem. u. Ind. d. Roll., 3, 221, 1907; Bioch. Zeitschr., 15, 33, 1908. 



5 Zeitschr. f . physik. Chem. 36, 641 1901. 



6 Compt. rend. soc. biol., 60, 479, 1906; 62, 432, 1907; Bioch. Zeitschr., 4, 1, 1907. 



7 Bioch. Zeitschr., 9, 1, 1908. 



