688 TRANSACTIONS 0^ SECTION 1. 



Attempts to obtain synthesis of urea, from ammonium carbonate or bicar- 

 bonate by the agency of urease have been unsuccessful. The chemistry of the 

 hydrolysis of urea is complex and involves several equilibria, in all of which the 

 equilibrium position is very near that of complete hydrolysis. It is probable 

 that the action of urease on urea is first to form ammonium cyanate, and 

 experiments are in progress to investigate this. The change of ammonium 

 carbamate to carbonate is not accelerated by urease. 



The failure of urease to hydrolyse certain substituted ureas, such as urethane, 

 is due to the fact that these substances do not undergo a spontaneous slow 

 hydrolysis similar to that of urea, and they are not so readily attacked even by 

 inorganic reagents. Tlie absence of action is not therefore to be laid to the 

 charge of the enzyme but to the peculiarity of the reactions themselves. 



2. Capillary Phenomena in Blood-Cells : Phagocytosis, &c. 

 By Dr. John Tait. 



3. Clinical Recognition of Excitatory Cardiac Disorders by the Electro- 

 cardiograph. By Dr. C. E. Lea. 



4. The Alleged Acid Intoxication of Diabetic Coma. 

 By Dr. E. P. Poulton. 



5. Arginine and Creatine Formation. By Professor W. H. Thompson. 



6. The Effects of Tetanization on the Creatine and Creatinine of the 



Muscles of the Cat. By Professor W. H. Thompson, B. A. 

 McSwiNEY, and W. Feaeon. 



7. Demonstration of Electro-cardiograph Methods at Ancoats Hospital. 



By Dr. 6. E. Lea. 



FBI DAY, SEPTEMBER 10. 

 The following Papers were read : — 



1. The Presence of Copper in Animal and Vegetable Tissues. 

 By Dr. 0. Powell White. 



2. Microchemical Differentiation of Tissue Fats and Lipoids. 

 By Dr. F. W. Lamb and Mr. J. Holkee. 



3. Some Laws of Fat Absorption. By Dr. F. W. Lamb. 



4. On the Liquid Pressure Theory of Muscular Contraction. 

 By Sae.'VH M. Bakee, D.Sc. 



None of the theories which have been put forward to explain muscular con- 

 traction gives a satisfactory correlation between the energy relations and the 

 mechanism of the process. 



