THEIR MODE OF ACTION. 411 



less complex constitution, in consequence of a mere 

 disturbance in the attraction of their elements. 



The white constituents of the almonds aad mus- 

 tard which resemble coagulated albumen, must be in 

 a peculiar state in order to exert their action upon 

 amygdalin, and upon those constituents of mustard 

 from which the volatile pungent oil is produced. If 

 almonds, after being blanched and pounded, are 

 thrown into boiling water, or treated with hot alco- 

 hol, with mineral acids, or with salts of mercury, 

 their power to effect a decomposition in amygdalin 

 is completely destroyed. Synaptas is an azotized 

 body which cannot be preserved when dissolved in 

 water. Its solution becomes rapidly turbid, deposits 

 a white precipitate, and acquires the offensive smell 

 of putrefying bodies. 



It is exceedingly probable, that the peculiar state 

 of transposition into which the elements of synaptas 

 are thrown when dissolved in water, may be the 

 cause of the decomposition of amygdalin, and forma- 

 tion of the new products arising from it. The action 

 of synaptas in this respect is very similar to that of 

 rennet upon sugar. 



Malt, and the germinating seeds of corn in gener- 

 al, contain a substance called diastase^ which is 

 formed from the gluten contained in them, and can- 

 not be brought in contact with starch and water, 

 without effecting a change in the starch. 



When bruised malt is strewed upon warm starch, 

 made into a paste with water, the paste after a few 

 minutes becomes quite liquid, and the water is found 

 to contain, in place of starch, a substance in many 

 respects similar to gum. But when more malt is 

 added and the heat longer continued, the liquid ac- 

 quires a sweet taste, and all the starch is found to 

 be converted into sugar of grapes. 



The elements of diastase have at the same time 

 arranged themselves into new combinations. 



The conversion of the starch contained in food in- 

 to sugar of grapes in diabetes indicates, that amongst 



