RECORDS 489 



Professor Hallock exhibited some color photographs and some 

 sound wave photographs taken by Prof. R. W. Wood, of the 

 University of Wisconsin. 



Wm. S. Day, 



Sec7'etafy. 



SECTION OF BIOLOGY. 

 May 14, 1900. 



Section met at 8:20 P. M., Professor F. S. Lee presiding. 



The minutes of the last meeting of the Section were read and 

 approved. 



The name of one candidate for resident membership was read 

 and referred to the Council according to the By-Laws. 



The following program was then offered : 



J. E. Kirkwood and W. J. Gies, Some Chemical Notes on 

 THE Composition of the Cocoanut. 



Frederic S. Lee and 0. 0. Harrold, The Significance of 

 Carbohydrates in Muscle. 



Summary of Papers. 



The .authors of the first paper have carried on qualitative work 

 on the ungerminated nut, preparatory to a study of the digestive 

 processes during germination. The chief constituents are cel- 

 lulose and fat. Some soluble carbohydrate is present, besides 

 globulin and proteose, but no albumin or pepton. Only amylo- 

 lytic ferments have so far been found. The milk of the nut is 

 normally acid, probably due to acid phosphate. It contains an 

 earthy phosphate, reduces Fehling's solution, sours on stand- 

 ing, and acquires much the odor and physical appearance of 

 soured cow's milk. It shows only small quantities of proteid 

 and fat. 



The meat of the average nut contains from two to three grains 

 of globulin, which may be obtained in crystalline form. The 

 authors have made three preparations by the usual methods. 

 The nitrogen averages for these were 17.91 % , 17.81 % , 17.68% . 

 The ash for the same, o. 13%, 0.41 % , 1.05 ^ . 

 Annals N. Y. Acad. Sci., XIII, Feb. 13, igoi — 32. 



