148 BIO-CHEMICAL JOURNAL 



N 



(a) 20 c.c. T.D. (of which N = about iqo c.c. H a SO 4) 



10 ' 



N 

 (ti) 20 c.c. T.D. + 20 c.c. - Q NaOH, so as to neutralize the lactic acid added. 



N 

 (c) 20 c.c. T.D. + 25 c.c. NaOH, so as to have a distinctly alkaline solution. 



The effects of these solutions on the autolysed tissue, after acting 

 for one and for two hours in the incubator, were investigated. In 

 each case, instead of estimating the N in the filtrate, the N of the 

 coagulable albumen was determined (by the method given in Part II), 

 sulphate of soda being added in sufficient quantity to absorb all the 

 water (i.e., somewhat more than the weight of the whole mixture). 



N 

 N of coagulum after autolysis with acid for 2] hours = 66 c.c. H. 2 SO 4 



N of coagulum 



Product of 2^ hours autolysis + I. D. after i hour 65-5 



,. 2\ + T. D. + 25 c.c. NaOH i 64-2 



2\ ,, + T. D. 2 hours 65-0 



2\ + T. D. + 20 C.C. NaOH 2 ,, 65-2 



3^ + T. D. i hour 63-0 



3^ + T. D. + 25 c.c. NaOH ,, I 63-0 



3^ + T. D. 2 hours 54-5 



3^ + T. D. + 25 C.C. NaOH 2 56-0 



N of coagulum after autolysing with acid for 4^- hours = 57'5 - - H 3 SO 4 



Although these results do not give any evidence of the reversal 

 of the autolytic process, such an action is by no means improbable ; 

 there is no doubt of the powerful inhibitory action, which indicates 

 that the reaction is probably reversible. 



Series IV. Effects of products of peptic digestion. In the following 

 experiments, the autolysis was investigated in 20 c.c. saline to which 

 were added 5 c.c. of a carefully neutralized 10 per cent, solution of 

 Witte's peptone. 



Time With peptone Control * 



o 67-3 67-3 



2 hours 72-3 72*8 



4 74' 76'3 



6 86-5 86-0 



8 9 2 '3 94' 



24 103-0 113-2 



