January 24, 1896.] 



SCIENCE. 



Ill 



Since the recorded analj'ses of the pigment 

 of the dark hair of the white races show 

 many points in common with those of the 

 negro's skin and hair, it would seem very 

 probable that the pigment of the negro's 

 skin is closelj' related to that found in the 

 hair of the white races. 



The percentages of carbon, hydrogen, ni- 

 trogen, sulphur and oxygen found in the 

 isolated pigment are far from supporting 

 the theory that it is derived from the color- 

 ing principle of the blood. 



Dry distillation of the pigment carried on 

 at a certain temperature yields much pyrrol, 

 a fact of special interest, since pyrrol has 

 also been obtained from derivatives of chlo- 

 rophyll and haemoglobin and from certain 

 melanins and proteids. "While we are not 

 justified at present in classifying the various 

 pigments referred to as pyrrol derivatives, 

 the presence of this chemical among their 

 decomposition products would suggest a 

 closer chemical union between chlorophyll 

 and some of the animal pigments named 

 than has hitherto been thought to exist. 



4. T. B. Aldeich : On the ehemical and 



physiological properties of the fluid secreted by 



the anal glands of Mephitis mephitica. 



The secretion, at least when examined a 



few hours after removal from the sacs, has 



a neutral reaction, a specific gravity, at 



ordinary temperatures, less than water, a 



golden yellow color, and a very well-known 



characteristic and penetrating odor. It 



burns with a luminous flame, giving off 



sulphur dioxide fumes, and gives all of the 



mercaptan and some of the alkylsulphide 



reactions. 



By distillation the secretion is separated 

 into two sharply defined, nearly equal por- 

 tions: A, boiling between 100° and 130° C, 

 and having the odor of the secretion; B, boil- 

 ing over 130° C, and having a less offensive 

 odor than A. A gives all the mercaptan 

 and some of the alkylsulphide reactions; 



B does not react with either lead acetate ot 

 mercuric oxide, but gives some of the alkyl* 

 sulphide reactions. In A we have one or 

 more of the higher mercaptaus, in B we 

 have probably some alkylsulphides. 



The fractional distillation of A gave three 

 portions: C, B. P. 100-110° C; D, B. P. 

 110-120° C, and E, B. P. over 120° C. C 

 constitutes about one-half of A ; the 

 three fractions gave all the mercaptan re- 

 actions. 



For the purpose of identifying the mer- 

 captaus in fraction C, several sulphur de- 

 terminations were made; the lead and mer- 

 cury compounds were made and subjected 

 also to analysis. These analyses gave re- 

 sults which point to the presence of one of 

 the butylmercaptans. 



It is found that one is able to recognize 

 with the nose g^osAiJooTy mg of G; showing 

 that it is this part of the original secretion 

 which gives it its great penetrating and dif- 

 fusing propertj'. 



The secretion is a powerful anaesthetic . 

 There is an instance on record illustrating 

 this property. Some years ago a number 

 of boys caused one of their companions to 

 inhale an unknown quantity of the secre- 

 tion. The victim lost consciousness, but 

 recovered under the care of a physician and 

 showed no after-effects. The fluid also has 

 the properties of a local irritant, e. g., a 

 drop in the eye setting up a conjunctivitis. 

 Those that have worked with the secretion 

 and have inhaled much of the vapor com- 

 plain of violent headaches and dysuria. 

 The present writer has not observed these 

 symptoms in himself, although he has 

 worked with comparatively large quantities 

 of the secretion for a long time. 



Further chemical and physiological ex- 

 periments are now in progress. 



5. Gr. LusK : Phloridzin diabetes and the 

 maximum of sugar from proteid. 

 It was shown that after administration 



