200 P^of. Latham, Further observations on tJte [March G, 



trace out the steps taken by the oxygen from the moment it slips 

 into its intra-molecular position [in muscle] to the moment when 

 it issues united with carbon as carbonic acid. The whole mystery 

 of life lies hidden in the story of that progress, and for the pre- 

 sent we must be content with simply knowing the beginning 

 and the end*." The same may be said with equal force as regards 

 alcohol. 



If however albumen is a compound, such as I have represented 

 it to be, of cyanhydrins, and if the chief primary changes which 

 take place in the tissues, result from the effects of oxidation, and 

 of combinations with nitrogen in the form of NH 3 or HON, then 

 some light seems to be thrown upon the processes, and Ave may 

 readily conceive how variable may be the transformations of 

 alcohol according to the conditions under which the products are 

 developed. The accompanying Table has been drawn up to show 

 some few of these changes. 



Taking the right-hand side of the Table we find that by oxida- 

 dation, alcohol is converted into aldehyde, thence into a cyanhydrin 

 or constituent of albumen, which hydrated becomes lactic acid. 

 By oxidation and according to the power of the oxidising agent, 

 this may be converted either into acetic acid and formic acid 

 which under certain conditions combine to form aldehyde, carbonic 

 acid and water; or the lactic acid may be converted into oxalic 

 acid, carbonic acid and water. Or the cyanhydrin combining with 

 ammonia may form the cyanamide or amido-nitrile, which by hy- 

 dration becomes alanine. This undero-oin^ molecular transformation 

 is converted into an alcoholic carbamate, which leads to the forma- 

 tion either of urea or of uric acid, and alcohol. Again, going 

 further back, aldehyde may combine with NH 3 forming aldehyde 

 ammonia, thence to be converted into a cyanamide which hydrated 

 as before becomes alanine, or combining with a urethane and 

 then hydrated, gives the formula for asparagine, which according 

 to the substance by which it is oxidised gives rise to the various 

 products stated in the Table. Lastly, alcohol still further oxidised 

 produces acetic acid ; acetates and formates Avhen heated together, 

 produce aldehyde and a carbonate, and aldehyde by oxidation is 

 converted into carbonic acid and water, or forming condensation 

 products may be converted into aldol or crotonic aldehyde. The 

 acetates again when heated alone, give rise to carbonates and 

 acetone or dimethyl ketone, and this combining with HCN forms 

 a cyanhydrin or constituent of albumen. 



A table of similar changes can be drawn up for the other 

 alcohols, and the products acting upon each other would give rise 

 to an indefinite number of transformations. 



* Foster's Physiology, 3rd Ed. 1879, p. 829. 



