124 F. H. SCOTT. 



which this inorganic phosphate had also been removed. Table III 

 shows that from such material no phosphorus is liberated as inorganic 

 phosphate, i.e. capable of being precipitated with ammonia and mag- 

 nesium citrate, by digestion with acids for seven days at 38. 



The above table shows that, from the nuclein bodies, acids liberate 

 the phosphorus not as inorganic phosphate, but as some soluble organic 

 compound in which the phosphorus is still masked. This soluble 

 phosphorus compound does not react with either the nitric or the hydro- 

 chloric molybdate reagent. Testis prepared as above may be hydrolysed 

 on the water bath with hydrochloric or sulphuric acid until it gives no 

 precipitate with tannic acid and yet none of the 3 reagents, i.e. ammonia 

 and magnesium citrate, the hydrochloric molybdate or the nitro- 

 molybdate, will show any inorganic phosphate. 



The above figures show the reason for the failure of the nitro- or the 

 hydrochloric molybdate reagent when applied to tissues. They show 

 that acids readily remove most of the phosphorus from nuclein compounds 

 in some soluble form but not as inorganic phosphate. The whole principle 

 of the Lilienfeld-Monti-Macallum reaction is therefore wrong: and all 



O 



deductions as to the distribution of phosphorus compounds (other than 

 inorganic orthophosphates) which have been deduced from the use of 

 their reagents are valueless. 



REFERENCES. 



(1) Lilienfeld, L., and Monti, A. Zeit. f. physiol. Chem. xvn. p. 410. 1893. 



(2) Baciborski, M. Botau. Zeit. LI. Pt. n. p. 245. 1893. 



(3) Gilson, G. Rep. Brit. Assoc. Edinburgh, p. 778. 1892. 



(4) Pollacci, G. Malpighia, vm. p. 361. 1894. 



(5) Heine, L. Zeit. f. physiol. Chem. xxn. p. 132. 1896. 



(6) Macallum, A. B. Proc. Boy. Soc. London, LXIII. p. 467. 1898. 



(7) Scott, F. H. Trans. Canad. Inst. vi. p. 405. 1898. Brain, xxvm. p. 506. 1905. 



(8) Bensley, B. R. Biol. Bulletin, x. p. 49. 1906. 



(9) Bayliss, W. M., and Plimmer, B. H. Aders. This Journal, xxxni. p. 439. 

 1906. 



(10) Cathcart, E. P. This Journal, xxxi. p. 497. 1904. 



