

THE DECOMPOSITION OF FAT 377 



of the theoretically possible predecessors of carbon dioxide, when injected directly 

 into the animal body, are destructible but others are not, some idea can be 

 formed whether or not such intermediary compounds appear in the physiological 

 oxidation of complex fat bodies. Pohl's investigation has shown, for example, 

 that oxalic acid is indestructible in the animal body; that the acids presumably 

 occurring in the oxidation of the ethane derivatives, glycolic acid, CH 2 .OH. 

 COOH, and glyoxylic acid, CH(HO) 2 .COOH, can be destroyed in relatively 

 large quantities without forming any oxalic acid, as occurs when they are oxi- 

 dized outside the body. Therefore, the most highly oxidized acid of the series, 

 which is combustible in the body, namely glyoxylic acid, may be considered as 

 the stage immediately preceding the carbon dioxide excreted. Glycol, CH 2 OH. 

 CHOH, is only partly combustible in the body without forming oxalic acid. 

 Malonic acid, CH 2 (COOH) 2 , tartronic acid, CH.OH(COOH) 2 , mesoxalic acid, 

 (HO) 2 .C.(COOH) 2 , glyceric acid, CH 2 .(OH) .CH(OH).COOH, are combus- 

 tible and thus their production as intermediary stages in animal combustion is 

 rendered possible. On the other hand, the body has the power to burn tartaric 

 acid, C 4 H O e , only to a slight extent. 



