Cellulose 



cellulose proper (cellulose rtelle) : The substance (straw) is di- 

 gested with dilute hydrochloric acid (7 p.ct. HC1) for some hours, 

 washed, and treated with strong ammonia until all matters soluble 

 in this reagent are removed ; it is then treated with cuprammonium 

 solution. After exhaustive action of this solution, the cellulose is 

 precipitated from the solution by the addition of acetic acid in 

 slight excess, washed, dried, and weighed. The following results 

 were obtained : 



Process No. I. 

 Cellulose estimated as described by solution in cuprammonium . 49*44 



Process No. 2. 



Cellulose dissolved in the process of estimating crude fibre . 21-99 

 Cellulose present in ' crude fibre ' (3977 p.ct) calculated from 

 its composition 1 26-54 



Total . . . 48-53 



The concordance of these numbers is perhaps misleading, since 

 the lignocelluloses are attacked by cuprammonium. The errors of 

 the two processes compensating one another, the author arrives at 

 a determination of cellulose approximating to that of the now 

 standard methods. 



In dealing with the group of substances inde'termint'es, i.e. the 

 residue of constituents not determined by the standard methods 

 of analysis, the author arrives at conclusions similar to those con- 

 tained in the paper above noted. By the statistical method he 

 finds the composition of this complex in typical fodder plants to 

 be as under : 



numbers which indicate large variations in composition, and there- 

 fore in nutritive value. 



The author's elaborate method of proximate analysis certainly 

 effects a more complete resolution of this heterogeneous group ; 

 and the complete scheme of investigation, devised to minimise 

 the errors of the standard methods, is worthy of attention. It would 



1 I.e. as a mixture of cellulose and lignin. 



