AUTOLYSIS IN PATHOLOGICAL PROCESSES 103 



The precipitation of plastein from proteose solution by organ extracts 

 (Niirnberg) may be either the effect of a coagulating ferment or due to 

 reverse action of the proteases. Ferments splitting specifically maltose, 

 starch, and nucleoproteids have been described, and the glycogenic 

 ferment is probably nearly universally present. Other enzymes decom- 

 posing amino-acids into ammonium compounds may also exist. The 

 enzymes acting specifically upon the nucleic acids and the purin bodies 

 have already been discussed. 



