i$4 BIO-CHEMICAL JOURNAL 



incubation and a corresponding portion after incubation. Trichloracetic 

 acid was added before boiling to avoid loss of volatile alkali. The 

 following numbers represent the amount of autolysis in 7^- hours : 



Solution used Amount of Alkali Autolysis 



Without NH, 



o. 154 



N 

 zoc.c. NH 3 -0085 gr. NH 3 8-3 



20c.c.^ N H 3 -017 6- 5 



N 

 20 c.c. . 



MM T>t A e-A 



tN " 34 54 



2oc.c. _ N H 3 -068 3-4 



-2C08 gr. N(CH 3 ) 3 3-9 



Here again we have a strong inhibition due to the alkali. This, 

 as will be shown in the sequel, has an important bearing on the 

 mechanism of nutrition. 



Influence of acids on the production of acid products of autolysis. 



Magnus-Levy has shown that when autolysis is carried out with- 

 out antiseptics under conditions assuring asepsis, as far as can be deter- 

 mined by cultures, a considerable evolution of gas takes place (both 

 co-2 and hydrogen), and certain quantities of fatty acids (amongst which 

 is lactic acid) are produced. It has been noticed in the experiments 

 recorded above that when acids (either sulphuric or an organic acid) 

 are present, a'though irtrogenous degradation products are formed very 

 rapidly, there is no evolution of gas, and no smell of fatty acids, even 

 after 24 hours incubation. It would seem, therefore, that those condition s 

 which favour the formation of nitrogenous bodies inhibit the formation 

 of acid. It was also noticed that when the liver of a well-fed dog was 

 autolysed in the presence of acid, the mixture at the end of 24 hours 

 was still quite turbid with glycogen. The corresponding mixture in 

 the case of a fasting dog was perfectly clear. This subject requires 

 further research. 



Physiological action of the products of autolysis. 



Attempts were made to prepare a cytotoxic serum by the injection 

 of cats' liver into the peritoneum of a rabbit. If the fresh liver be 



