408 GLYCOGEN FORMATION AFTER 



strengths of free acid. Organic acids, such as oxalic, lactic, 

 and salicylic, also transform inulin in the same way. 



In adding a number of new experiments on inulin-feeding 

 to those already referred to, we have also had in mind the 

 negative, yet inconclusive experiments carried out in this 

 laboratory with the resistant carbohydrate lichenin.* We 

 have desired especially to supplement Miura's investigation 

 by administering large portions of inulin and allowing the 

 absorption to proceed during longer intervals than has hereto- 

 fore been the case. It was hoped to counteract in this way 

 the effects of a possible slow conversion and absorption of the 

 carbohydrate. It is difficult, however, to determine upon any 

 satisfactory tune-limit, owing to the danger of a subsequent 

 loss of the newly stored-up glycogen during the protracted 

 hunger period. 



EXPERIMENTAL. 



In these experiments we have followed Miura's method 

 with few variations. The data thus afforded are summarized 

 in the table below. The inulin used was obtained from va- 

 rious sources and was purified with alcohol, when necessary, 

 until it gave no reduction with Fehling's solution after being 

 heated three minutes in a boiling water-bath, f It was free 

 from nitrogenous matter. The rabbits were starved from five 

 to seven days. Inulin was suspended hi warm water and 

 administered, partly dissolved, with a stomach sound. The 

 animals were killed by decapitation; the liver was quickly 

 removed, and the glycogen determined by the Briicke-Kiilz 

 method. The stomach and intestinal contents were tested 

 with Fehling's solution and by SeliwanofFs reaction (HC1 and 

 resorcin) for levulose or inulin, other sugars which give the 

 reaction, such as saccharose, being assumed to be absent after 

 long fasting. The observations on these reactions are not 

 recorded here, since they afford no new points of interest. 

 Other details are included in the table, and two experiments 

 with levulose are added for comparison. 



* Cf. Brown, Amer. Jour. Physiol. 1898, i, p. 458. 



t As advised by Kiliani. Cf. Miura, loc. cit., p. 260, note 1. 



