476 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [June 
been found impossible to separate any substance from yeast or other organ- 
ized ferment that would produce an alcoholic fermentation independent of 
living protoplasm. Sachs has also elaborated the same opinion. The prob- 
lem has been further complicated by the assumption by Pfeffer, Wiesner, 
Noll, and others, that alcoholic fermentation is identical with intramolecular 
breathing, and therefore through a series of gradations with normal breathing. 
iscovery which promises to be of great importance in this connection 
was announced by Dr. Eduard Buchner® of Tiibingen in a preliminary com- 
_ munication to the German Chemical Society on January 11. He has sep- 
arated a nitrogenous compound from yeast which produces a vigorous and 
characteristic alcoholic fermentation without the presence of yeast or bac- 
teria cells, 7. ¢., independent of living protoplasm. 
The met pursued in separating the ferment was as follows. A thous- 
and grams of pure compressed yeast were mixed with an equal weight of 
quartz sand and 250 grams of diatomaceous earth and the whole ground 
together until the mass became moist and plastic. This was mixed with 
100° of water and then subjected to a pressure of four to five hundred atmos- 
pheres in a hydraulic press. By this means about 300° of liquid was secured. 
The remaining cake was broken up and mixed with roo“ of water, and being 
pressed as before yielded about 150° additional liquid, which was added to 
the first. The liquid, being somewhat turbid, was shaken up with 4 grams 
of diatomaceous earth and filtered throu, paper several times. 
A clear liquid was thus obtained having a specific gravity at 17 5 Oe 
1.0416 and yielding a large percentage of dry substance. By microscopic 
_and bacteriological tests it was found to be absolutely free from yeast cells, 
and almost or quite free from all other germs. 
When this extract is added to an equal amount of a strong solution of 
either cane, grape, or invert. sugar, a vigorous fermentation starts up after a— 
quarter of an hour to an hour and continues for days. There is no action, 
A mea nees with lactose or mannite, substances which do not ferment with liv-. 
mg fer ss ntation i is not Seeeee . the presence of chloroform. 
ture after five sonra 
ti lost. When 2 fect pre with alcohol | 
uric re it became inactive. — The active principle appears beg be 
dialyes, but i its exact behavior i in this — has not ae or 
