582 VITAL ACTIONS OF THE LOWER FUNGI. 



Analysis of analysed. Thus Loew found in the case of the pan- 



ferments. creatic ferment, which in a pure condition occurs as a 



snow-white powder, carbon= 52*75 per cent. ; hydrogen 



= 7*51 per cent. ; nitrogen = 16*55 per cent. ; oxygen + 



sulphur = 23'19 per cent. ; ashes = l*77 per cent. 



Selmi* states that he has obtained from urine two 

 crystalline diastatic ferments, the one crystallising in 

 the form of microscopic dice, the other like a fern leaf. 

 Mode of action The mode of action of these ferments may he generally 

 ferment?. characterised, by saying that they produce hydrolytic 

 decompositions; that is to say, every molecule of the sub- 

 stance which is being split up breaks up into two or more 

 molecules by taking up one or several molecules of water. 

 In correspondence with this, the decomposition in the 

 case of some of the ferments mentioned above would 

 occur in the following manner : 



(1) Diastase : C 24 H 40 2l) + 3 H 2 = C 6 H, ,,0 5 + 3 C 6 H 12 0,,. 



Starch. Dextrine. Dextrose. 



or, according to more recent views: 



C 36 H 62 31 + 2 H,0 = 2 C 6 H I0 5 + 2 (C 12 H 22 O n + H.O). 

 Starch. Dextrine. Maltose. 



(2) Invertin: C I4 H M O M + H,0 = C 6 H I2 O d + C.H.Ai- 



Cane-sugar. Dextrose I/Eevulose. 



(3) Emulsin : C 20 H 27 NO , , + 2 H,0=2 C fc H I2 Oo+ C 6 H 5 .COH + CNH. 



Amygdalin. Dextrose. Oil of bitter Hydro- 



almonds. cyanic 

 acid. 



C 13 H 18 7 + H,O == C d H, a O,i + CH 4 OH, CH 2 OH. 

 Salicine. Dextrose. Saligenine. 



C 16 H 22 8 + H.,0=C:H Ia O fl + C 6 H 3 ^ C 3 H U OH. 



Coniferin. Dextrose. Coniferyl alcohol. 



(4) Ferment of urea : CO,NH 2 , NH 2 + 2 H 2 O = C0 3 (NH 4 ) 2. 

 Urea. Carbonate of ammonia. 



In the case of some of the other ferments, for 

 example, the peptonising one, we cannot make anything 

 like an accurate formula for the transformation; but it 

 is probable that in all, the decomposition takes place in 

 a similar manner by the taking up of water. 

 Similar action Numerous other chemical agents are also capable of 

 playing the same part as we have observed in these 

 ferments. When boiled with dilute sulphuric acid, 



Seimi, Aid dei Lincei, vol. 5. 



