THE VITAL PHENOMENA OF BACTERIA. 93 



to its constitution it is amidohypoxanthin 

 C 5 H A N H N 4 and on fusion with potas- 

 sium, forms potassium cyanide (KCN). 



Under the action of strong hydrochloric acid 

 the glucoses also form polysaccharides, such 

 as isomaltose and dextrine. Through the com- 

 bination of synthetic bodies of this character 

 with ammonia (NH 3 ) or with the amido group 

 (NH 2 ) derived from it, proteid arises. Accord- 

 ing to Oscar Low, the following formulae in a 

 manner express the conceptions which may be 

 formed regarding the construction of proteid 

 through polymerization, synthesis, anhydride- 

 formation, reduction and condensation of the 

 molecules thus originated. Only the more 

 important intermediate stages are considered. 



I. H 2 CO 3 = CH 2 O + O 2 (or any other mode of form- 

 carbonic acid, formaldehyde, oxygen, ation of formaldehyde). 



II. 4CH 2 + NH 3 = C 4 H 7 N0 2 + 2H 3 O 



formaldehyde, ammonia, aldehyde of aspartic acid, water. 



(i e. an amido-acid. ) 



III. 3 (C 4 H 7 N0 2 ) = C 12 H 17 N 3 4 + 2H,O 



IV. 6(C 12 H 17 N 3 4 ) + 6H 2 + H 2 S = C 72 H 112 N 18 S0 22 + 2H 2 O 



simplest expression for proteid. 



That it is possible to pass from inert, lifeless 

 proteid to the active, living proteid, and that 

 Scholl succeeded in one case in making again 

 active a proteid which had been rendered pas- 

 sive through heat are facts already mentioned. 



