LOUIS FREEDMAN 11 



EXTRACTION OF THE ADSORBED MATERIAL FROM FULLERS EARTH 



AND NORIT BY MEANS OF BARYTA AND ACETIC ACID 



RESPECTIVELY. 



Following the method of Seidell, 6 the fullers earth contain- 

 ing the adsorbed vitamine-like material was shaken for two 

 to three minutes with one and a half volumes of a 10% solution 

 of baryta at 60 C. The solid was then filtered off, washed with 

 water, and the combined filtrate and washings quickly neutral- 

 ized with 20% sulphuric acid. The filtrate, after removal of the 

 barium sulphate, was concentrated in vacuum and made up to a 

 volume equal to the original volume of the medium before treat- 

 ment with the adsorbing agent. The solution was then adjusted 

 to a PH of 7.4 and sterilized. Unless otherwise noted, one cc. of 

 the solution was used in all tests. 



The baryta extract of the fullers earth from the first shak- 

 ing with autolyzed yeast (50 grams per liter) showed a com- 

 paratively strong growth stimulating action on the growth of 

 both yeast cells and streptococci, as can be seen in table IV 

 below. This extract contains nearly all of the vitamine B from 

 autolyzed yeast and a small part of the newly isolated vitamine 

 D. Its stimulating effect on yeast growth compares with that 

 obtained by Funk and Dubin 5 as shown in the second column 

 of table IV. It also showed a comparatively strong stimulation 

 of the growth of bacteria. 



The baryta extract of the fullers earth from the second 

 shaking with autolyzed yeast (100 grams per liter) had an 

 effect on yeast growth almost equal to that of the first baryta 

 extract; while the action on the growth of streptococci was 

 only slightly diminished as shown by 2 (a) and 3 (a). This 

 extract had no curative effect on polyneuritic pigeons, showing 

 the apparent absence of vitamine B. The fullers earth, during 

 the third shaking, failed to extract any more of the active sub- 

 stance, as its baryta extract showed no effect on yeast and 

 bacterial growth. 



Extraction of the norit ivith acetic acid: Following the 

 method of Eddy, Stevenson, Johnson and Heft, 7 the material 

 adsorbed by the charcoal was extracted from it by heating the 

 charcoal on a water bath for three hours with ten parts (by 

 weight) of glacial acetic acid; the solution was filtered, and 

 evaporated in vacuum to dryness; the residue was taken up 

 in water, and the solution again evaporated. This procedure 



