146 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. LIII. No. 1363 



the following facts are obvious: All cell tissues 

 contain, diastase. The more vigorous and active 

 the tissue the greater the diastase content. Dias- 

 tase is formed in greater quantity, perhaps en- 

 tirely, in the anabolic or growing state. This ana- 

 bolic state persists to some extent as long as the 

 tissue lives, and while not manifest by an increase 

 in size, is manifest in the repair of tissues ex- 

 hausted by the basal metabolism. In conditions of 

 great waste, i.e., excessive katabolism, there is a 

 decrease in diastase content. The method used 

 for the determination of the diastatie content of 

 the tissues is described in the Journal of Biolog- 

 ical Chemistry, 1919, Vol. 39, p. 274. The order 

 of diastaitie activity of the dog and rabbit was 

 given. The tissues of other animals show a close 

 agreement with this test. The effect of the state 

 of health on the diastatie content of the blood of 

 human patients suffering from cancer, pernicious 

 anemia and typhoid was compared with the dias- 

 tatie content of normal blood. In all eases the 

 content was lower in the diseased state. This is 

 in agreement with what has been found on plants 

 which contain more diastase in the healthy vigorous 

 state. The suggestion is made tentatively that the 

 diastase content of a tissue may be used as a 

 measure of its functional activity, and perhaps 

 also as a test of basal metabolism. While the 

 work is unfinished it would seem that diastatie ac- 

 tivity runs parallel with functional activity; the 

 more active the tissue the greater its diastatie ac- 

 tivity and the significance of the diastases is that 

 of life itself. There is no indication that diastase 

 is a waste product as has been assumed by some 

 investigators. 



New heneyl esters possessing anti-spasmodic ac- 

 tion: H. A. Shonle and P. Q. Row. In investi- 

 gating the anti-spasmodic action of the benzyl 

 nucleus the benzyl esters of lauric, myristic, pal- 

 mitic, stearic, and oleic acids were prepared. They 

 are either liquid oi low melting solids, insoluble 

 in water and practically tasteless and odorless. 

 They are hydrolyzed as readily as olive oil when 

 acted on by lipase in vitro. They possess no irri- 

 tating effect on the mucous membrane, and in 

 clinical cases cause the relaxation of smooth 

 muscle. 



Bensyl succinate: Mortimbe Bte. Following in 

 the footsteps of Macht, of Johns Hopkins, and ap- 

 preciating the many objeotionable features in the 

 administration of benzyl benzoate, the writer was 

 led to seek for some solid material which would be 

 more suitable for medication and more palatable to 



take. Benzyl succinate seemed to offer a solution 

 of this problem, and accordingly the product was 

 prepared, following modifications of the method 

 of Bischoff & Von Hedenstrom (Ber., 35, 4079) 

 in which succinic acid and benzyl alcohol in mo- 

 lecular proportions are heated on an oil or metal 

 bath for several hours at 180°-190°; after cooling 

 and filtering the filtrate is subjected to vacuum 

 'distillation on a metal bath. The benzyl suc- 

 cinate distilling over at 235°-245° C. at 15 mm. 

 pressure, crystallizes 'on cooling and is purified with 

 solutions such as alcohol, ether or chloroform. 

 The product is a beautiful snow white crystal, prac- 

 tically with very little odor or taste and practically 

 non-toxic. Judging from our own experience and 

 by the work of other investigators, benzyl succi- 

 nate should be applicable to the treatment of all 

 ' ' diseases ' ' wherein the use of benzyl benzoate is 

 indicated. Such uses will be given in greater de- 

 tail in the main paper. * 



Bensyl derivatives of salicylic acid: E. A. Wild- 

 man. It has seemed desirable to investigate the 

 various types of compounds containing the benzyl 

 radical in other types of linkage than esters. The 

 benzyl ether of salicylic acid has been shown to 

 possess distinct physiological activity. 



Some nevj compounds of plienylcinchoninic acid: 

 H. W. Ehodbhamel and E. H. Stuakt. Phenyl- 

 cinchoninio acid (2 phenyl-quinoline-4-carboxylic 

 acid) combines readily with halogens and forms 

 stable compounds with well characterized proper- 

 ties. A hydrochloride, hydroiodide, hydrobromide 

 and hydrofluoride are described. Phenylcinchoninic 

 acid also combines readily with quinine to form 

 quinine phenylcinehouinate. This compound occurs 

 as a white crystalline, nearly tasteless body, in- 

 soluble in water, but soluble in alcohol and acetone. 

 Charles L. Parsons, 

 Secretary 



SCIENCE 



A Weekly Journal devoted to the Advancement of 

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