334 



SCIENCE. 



[X. S. Vol. XXIII. No. 583. 



processes. Chemically considered the phe- 

 nomenon of normal ripening is essentially 

 an almost complete conversion of a large 

 store of starch into soluble carbohydrate, 

 attended by a decrease in the total carbo- 

 hydrate. Failure to effect this chemical 

 change, together with an absence of char- 

 acteristic color changes of the peel, is taken 

 as evidence of non-ripening. Bananas 

 placed in atmospheres (hydrogen, ' carbon 

 dioxide, illuminating gas) in which avail- 

 able oxygen was lacking failed to produce 

 notable amounts of soluble carbohydrate, or 

 to show any considerable decrease in total 

 carbohydrate, the same being true when 

 they were enveloped by an inert surface 

 coating such as paraffin. Furthermore, the 

 respiratory products of the fruit appeared 

 to effect an inhibitory action upon its 

 healthy development and ripening. Two 

 experiments with an atmosphere of oxygen 

 indicated that this gas somewhat acceler- 

 ated ripening processes. These studies 

 were preliminary to an attempt to detect 

 and isolate enzymatic agencies which may 

 be present. Autolyses with the green 

 pulp, or the gTcen pulp and scrapings of 

 the inner surfaces of the peel, or of the 

 partially ripened pulp, carried out with 

 toluene water iinder varied conditions, have 

 yielded negative results. The investiga- 

 tion is being extended in various directions. 



The Action of Eosin upon Tetanus Toxin 

 and in Tetanus: S. Flexnee and H. 



NOGUCHI. 



1. Eosin and certain other aniline dyes 

 have the power of destroying in vitro the 

 hemolytic property of tetanus toxin. 



2. Eosin when used in suificient quan- 

 tity destroys tetano-spasmin in vitro. 



3. Simultaneous injection of tetanus 

 toxin and eosin into rats delays or pre- 

 vents the appearance of the symptoms of 

 tetanus. When the symptoms appear they 

 progress more slowly than in conti-ol 

 animals. 



4. Spores of tetanus bacilli when intro- 

 duced in threads into rats together with 

 immediate eosin injections, do not produce 

 tetanus. The treatment of animals with 

 eosin, after the first appearance of the 

 tetanic symptoms following spore-infection, 

 may prevent the further developments of 

 the symptoms of tetanus. Eosin injections 

 into the same locality as spore inoculations 

 are the most effective, but injection into 

 other parts of the body delays or modifies 

 the tetanus process. 



5. Rats are more resistant to tetanus than 

 guinea-pigs, and hence are more easily 

 protected by eosin from tetanus poison. 

 But in guinea-pigs the fatal issue can be 

 delayed by eosin. 



The Action of Eosin and Erythrosin upon 

 Snake Venom. H. Noguchi. 



1. The hemolytic principles of venom re- 

 act differently to eosin depending upon 

 their native labilities. The hemolysin of 

 Crotalus venom suffers most; that of 

 Ddboia next, while that of Cohra is most 

 resistant. 



2. The toxicity of different venoms is 

 more or less diminished by eosin in the 

 light. Cohra is least affected; Crotalus 

 and Daioia venoms are most affected. 

 Co-otalus venom loses its toxicity chiefly by 

 destruction of hemorrhagin; and Daboia 

 by destruction of coagulin. 



3. Neurotoxin is little or not at all af- 

 fected by eosin or erythrosin. 



4. There is a parallel between the sus- 

 ceptibility of the toxic principles of snake 

 venom to fluorescent anilines and their sus- 

 ceptibility to other injurious influences. 

 Hemorrhagin and coagnilin are less stable 

 at high temperatures than neurotoxin, and 

 more easily destroyed by acids than neuro- 

 toxin and hematoxin. 



On the Decomposition of Purine Bodies by 

 Animal Tissues: P. A. Levene and "W. 

 A. Beatty. 



