CURRENT LITERATURE 401 
sHanstein well says, is declared by Loew to be no variable mixture of pro- 
ttids (as Reinke, Verworn, Pfeffer, and others hold), but organized proteid, 
shose vital energy depends on its chemical character, as its vital functions. 
pend on its organization. Dead protoplasm and living protoplasm are 
themically different; the former is chemically stable while the latter is 
themically active or labile, z. ¢., possessing much kinetic chemical energy, it 
aiters into reaction very readily. Death is the transformation from the labile 
the stable form of proteid, by the displacement of certain atoms in 
hemolecule. A labile proteid sometimes occurs as a reserve substance in 
Hants. This is the material whose reaction with silver salts in weak 
‘moniacal solution was discovered by Loew and Bokorny and was thought 
tobe the reaction of living protoplasm. 
With the proteid are combined certain salts of sodium, calcium, mag- 
See and iron oxid, and phosphoric acid. The role of these materials is 
liscussed, and their importance in the chemical processes pointed out. 
9 atts the biochemical work, and discussing the nature of 
i i. on at some length, two chapters are devoted to the eye 
te author’s a and HY grnes plants. In another are explained c rns 
a D lden ls views that labile proteids arise in the higher p ante 
‘ei a yde and ammonia, by way of the aldehyde of asparaginic 
CHO ) 
4CH,O CH .NH, +H,0O Ribs 
Riso ae = CH : Me a: : f Rem a oa 
2 
CHO 
mar diotiizNO, ye ai CysHi,N,0, TF . H,0 
sO, + 2H.0 
eid formula 
Tate N 0) 4 —_ 12H — H a = CroHa as Nu 
eae um she absence of any definite knowledge 
ly be Git or its exact composition, it is evident shat 
The ies ; nevertheless the theory may prove highly 
iScuss the | o et chapters (written in collaboration with 
thrarteristic . red which they found as a reserve material, its € 
In the i and its relation to living proteid. 
Conse aang chapter the author seeks to show upon W 
Ys, to — p attivity) of the protoplasm depends. 
aj (NH hg presence in the molecule of ald on 
idebydeg tg that is, the proteids of living pr 
Soups inj Ich at death lose their aldehyde groups W 4 as 
sdegy . 8° Part. Recalling the dictum of Sachs, “ The dead org wud 
| teditam of because it has lost its irritability,” one MY well couple w! 
The co ita “No irritability without lability. 
ncluding chapters are devoted to the Pp 
of the molecular 
these details can 
useful. 
Th, Borkorny) 
hemical 
Wej 
resentation of a theory 
