1894.] Anatomical and Physiological Researches. 69 
ist; to review their general properties, mode of action, and 
composition.” He has also cited the literature of the subject 
extensively, for which the original paper must be consulted. 
I. CARBOHYDRATE ENZYMES. 
I. Diastase. Baranetzky found it in many plants, and it 
has been made the object for a special study by Kjeldahl, 
Brown and Morris, and others, especially in barley-seeds 
where it appears at an early stage of development and where 
it is found in the part of the endosperm adjoining the embryo, 
Preparing the food for the latter out of the starch present in 
the grain. In leaves, its existence was known, and its func- 
tion thought to be that of converting starch into sugar. Wort- 
man, however, did not ascertain its existence, whence he con- 
cluded that the protoplasm had, itself, this function. Vines 
and St. Jentys gave afterwards new evidence of its presence 
and function. This so-called translocation-diastase will dis- 
other form, viz., the diastase of secretion, was found by Brown 
and Morris, and Haberlandt; it is formed shortly after the 
beginning of the germination in the epithelium of the scutel-. 
lum, dissolving starch-grains by corrosion. It liquefies starch- 
Paste rapidly and has its optimum temperature at 50°—55°C. 
€ final product of the transformation is apparently maltose, 
the intermediate members being unknown. 
2. Lnulase. In Dahlia, Helianthus tuberosus, and Inula 
Corresponding ferment, inulase, has been found. 
en: erate This ferment inverts cane-sugar into dex- 
in ‘he evulose. It has been found in an extract of malt, 
of Robini eee by Kossmann, in pollen-grains, in petals 
by Kents Seudacacia, in the embryo of germinating barley 
tivcis sere Ne O'Sullivan, and in several of the Saccharo- 
sg Fusarum, and in Aspergillus niger. 
tn tt > Sc drolytic enzymes. These transform cellulose, 
Pheenj es Present as a reserve material, as in the seeds of 
- dactylifera. M. Ward has found that’ a similar en- 
| 
aL has been found by Brown and Morris 
I < COSIDE ENzy 
ben Geragn °” Synaptase. In certain species of Amygda- 
"Sand Prunus emulsin decomposes the amygdalin, 
