410 INFLUENCE OF ACIDS ON THE 



CONCLUSION. 



A study of the figures presented reveals the fact that an 

 increase of glycogen in the liver above the starvation maxi- 

 mum (0.9 per cent, or 0.252 gram per kilo) ascertained by 

 Kiilz was obtained in only three cases after inulin-feeding 

 (experiments 4, 5 [?], 6). Any connection between the 

 glycogen-content and the length of time during which the feed- 

 ing continued is not evident from the data obtained. The 

 well known glycogen-forming property of levulose is again 

 demonstrated in the last experiments and stands in striking 

 contrast to the practically negative results with comparable 

 quantities of inulin. Furthermore, we recall the statement of 

 Kiilz * an authority on glycogen-formation that occa- 

 sionally there are to be found in the liver of the rabbit quan- 

 tities of glycogen presumably too large to disappear to the 

 extent recorded in the usual experiments, even after six days' 

 fasting. In addition to this the stomach of the fasting rabbit 

 normally always contains particles of food residue which 

 may gradually offer available carbohydrate. 



In view of all these facts, which apply equally to Miura's 

 experiments and to our own, the glycogen-forming properties 

 of inulin, in the case of the rabbit at least, must still be 

 regarded as uncertain or minimal, f 



m. 



THE INFLUENCE OF ACIDS ON THE AMYLOLYTIC 

 ACTION OF SALIVA. 



BT G. A. HANFORD. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



A SERIES of experiments on the influence of acids and alka- 

 lies upon the amylolytic action of the saliva has recently been 



* Kiilz, Centralblatt fiir Physiologic, 1890, iv, p. 789. 



t Cf . also Richaud, Comptee rendue de la societe de biologic, 1900, lii, p. 416. 



