C 3 H 6 ( 0H 



f ,CN.NH„ = C 5 Hj +CN.NH, 



1885.] creatine and urea in muscular tissue. 267 



In this way we pass from the lower cyan-alcohols to the higher 

 with the formation of urea, the two molecules of CH 2 combining 

 to form C 2 H 4 . Similarly 

 (OH 

 C 2 H 4 ,OH 



CN.NH^C^, CH 2 +CN.NH, 



CH, J (CN 



[CN 



[OH 

 C 3 H 6 1 + CN . NH 2 

 (CN 



and (OH 



f 



CHJ "'^CN 



(CN 



Here we have not only an explanation of the formation of urea in 

 the tissues but the reason why the amido-bodies obtained from 

 the tissues possess different properties from those made in the 

 laboratory. It may easily be shown that the above cyan-alcohol 



( OH 

 CH ImvT ' fr° m which leucine may be prepared, will contain 



^ (OH 



six different forms of C 5 H 10 \ ^^ . 



Going back now ; if urea and the next higher cyan-alcohol in 

 the series are formed, this latter by hydration may be converted 

 into the corresponding acid and ammonia 



(OH ( OH 



CH .CH 2 +2H.,0 = CH 2 .CH o +NH 2 



(on "(cooh 



Lactic acid 



which last again passes on to form a cyanamide with another 

 molecule in the chain. 



We may conceive that under the control of nervous force, 

 varying in intensity, these changes may take place and that 

 glycocine, alanine, amido-butyric and amido-valeric acids and 

 leucine result, bodies which we know can be obtained from mus- 

 cular tissue. Further, that the cyan-alcohols of one series may 

 be as I have shown transformed into those of a higher series, 

 and that that particular cyan-alcohol may be converted into the 

 corresponding acid; lactic acid, for example, being formed from 



glycocine by its dehydration and conversion into CH 2 j™, , and 



(OH 



subsequent hydration and condensation into urea and C 2 H 4 \ n . 



