TllAiSfSACtlOJJS of SECTION 1. 879 



digestible ty pepsin iu hydrochloric acid, uud the digested solution gave no reaction 

 for histopeptone. 



The quantitative determination of the cleavage-products gave the following 



results : — 



Amyloid from spleuii. Amyloid lioin livel'. Histono. 

 Ammonia . • 04 . 0-4 . — 



Histidine . . 2-3 ,, 2-3 , 23 



Arginine , . 7-7 , 7'Q ; 14-15 



Lysine . . 2-8 . 2-6 ., 7-7 -8-3 



This result was confirmed by the quantitative analysis of the whole organs. 

 Dr. Mayeda divided the proteolytic products obtained from the amyloid- degene- 

 rated organs into two fractions by precipitating with zinc sulphate. These fractions 

 showed the same percentage of arginine, histidine, and lysine as the analogous 

 fractions obtained from normal organs. 



Up to the present therefore no proof has been furnished tliat the proteins 

 found in amyloid degeneration differ in their essential structure from the albu- 

 minous substances of the same organ in the normal condition. 



3. The Jielationshij) of the Pyloric to the Fundic Part of the Stomach. 



By Dr. E. P. Cathcart. 



The present investigation was undertaken in order to discover, if possible, the 

 nature of the relationship between the pyloric and fundic parts of the stomach — 

 i.e., to see whether a stimulus acting on the pyloric part alone brought about 

 the secretion of gastric juice in the fundic part by chemical or nervous agency. 



For this purpose two dogs were used, in which the stomachs were divided into 

 two parts — the one part purely pyloric, and the other the whole fundus. Further, 

 one of the dogs had, in addition, a Heidenhain isolated stomach — i.e., one where 

 all nervous connection between the large stomach and the isolated is cut off. 

 Latterly controls were also made on a dog with a Pawlow isolated stomach — 

 i.e., with nervous connections intact. 



The method employad was to connect the cannula of the isolated pyloric part 

 with a funnel containing the solution to be tested as regards its stimulating 

 properties. This funnel was raised to a suitable height, so that the pressure on 

 the pyloric part would not be too great. It also permitted of the free movement 

 of the fluid brought about by the fairly energetic contractions of the pyloric part 

 of the muscle wall. The gastric juice secreted in the fundic part was collected 

 from another cannula in connection with this part. 



It was found that a large number of very different solutions brought about a 

 flow of gastric juice, the amount secreted varying with different stimulants. Of 

 all the solutions or fluids so far tested the only one which did not bring about 

 a secretion of juice was ordinary ' tap' water. This is a point of some import- 

 ance, as here, although the contractions of the pyloric part were quite as active 

 .IS, say, with a solution of Liebig's extract, yet no secretion resulted. Among 

 the solutions tested which gave positive results were Liebig's extract solution, 

 peptone (Chapoteaut) solution, sodium chloride solution, alcohol, and distilled 

 water. 



The primary question, however, as to whether the secretion is evoked through 

 chemical or nervous agency has not yet been definitely settled, as, owing to trouble 

 with the animals used, the research had to be interrupted before absolutely con- 

 clusive results were obtained. 



4. Isolation of a Physiologically Active Substance from Peptone. 

 By F. O'B. Ellison, M.D. 



The number of symptoms produced by injection of peptone seem to indicate 

 more than one active agent. This ' peptone effect ' is shown by Pick and Spiro 

 not to be due to the albumoses as such, but to an impurity attached to them and 

 called by them 'peptozyme.' This body was found by them in peptone prepared 



