402 ANNALS NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



world, from which they pass almost wholly as inorganic phosphates and 

 therefore suitable as plant food. The question of utility of the inorganic 

 phosphorus in the animal economy is still a very much debated point. 

 The organic phosphorus compounds s^Tithesized by the plants may be 

 divided into three general groups between which there are no sharp lines 

 of demarcation : the phosphorus combined with protein : the phosphorus 

 combined with fat-like substances ; and the phosphorus otherwise com- 

 bined^ among which is a subdivision designated as phytophosphates. This 

 subdivision is to us at the present time the most interesting. The phyto- 

 phosphates occur in all plants and in most cases account for the major 

 portion of the total phosphorus. They are obtained by extraction with 

 acidulated water and then precipitating with alcohol or the heavy metals. 

 The most prominent member of the group is thought to be a hexaphos- 

 phoric acid ester of inositol and is sold in the drug trade with absurd 

 claims of therapeutic properties under the name of "Ph}i:in.'' The con- 

 stitution of this (or possibly these) substance (or substances) is not defi- 

 nitely established^ but many of its properties have been agreed to by the 

 several workers in this field. Because of its being a relatively large pro- 

 portion of the phosphorus that enters the nutrition of man and beast it 

 is considered as a ver}^ important substance. Its study in the growing 

 plants justifies us in concluding that it plays a significant role in the 

 growth of plants. It is also suspected that it enters specifically into the 

 enzym actions and is a stepping stone in the synthesis of the more com- 

 plex substances both free of and containing phosphorus. 

 The Section then adjourned. 



E. E. S^LITK, 



Secretary. 



SECTION OF AXTHEOPOLOGY AXD PSYCHOLOGY 



22 February, 1915 



Section met in conjunction with the Xew York Branch of the Ameri- 

 can Psychological Association at Columbia University. Professor Ti. S. 

 Woodworth presiding. 



The following programme was offered : 



W. A. McCall, Prelimixary Eeport of ax Experiment to De- 



TERMIXE THE EFFECT OF AlR COXDITIOXS UPOX 



THE Accuracy of Judgmext of Ixtellectual 

 Products. 

 Edith F. Mulhall, Experimextal Studies ix Eecall axd Pecogxi- 



TIOX. 



