316 H. S. Chittenden — Papoid-digestion. 



raw beef proteids contained 2-6996 grams of dr^^ proteid. Obvi- 

 ously, in these experiments a portion of the chloroform evaporates 

 during the seven or eight hours, but the greater portion remains to 

 exert such influence as it possesses. The results show some inhibi- 

 tion of ferment action, but it is not very pronounced unless tlje 

 amount of chloroform is raised to more than 4 per cent. 



Thymol. 



The 10 grams of prepared raw beef proteids contained 2-8508 

 grams of dry proteid (110° C). 



The two mixtures were warmed at 45° C. for 7 hours. 



Medium. WeigM of undigested residue. Proteid digested. 



Water U-8988 gram 68-4 per cent. 



Water and thymol 1-0250 " 64-0 



A few drops of thj'^mol solution (20 per cent, thymol in alcohol) 

 were added to the one digestive mixture from time to time, in such 

 quantity that there was always a strong odor of thymol, and a thin 

 film of the substance floating on the top of the fluid. As is well 

 known, thymol is widely used in artificial digestion experiments, to 

 prevent possible putrefaction, a8 it, like chloroform, ordinarily exerts 

 only a minimal interference with the action of the unorganized fer- 

 ments or enzymes. The above result shows that thymol has only 

 the same slight inhibitory effect on papoid digestion. 



Hydrogen Peroxide. 



There is no very satisfactory way of measuring the exact influence 

 of hydrogen peroxide on the digestive action of papoid, or any 

 other like ferment. The only way available was to dissolve the 0*5 

 gram of papoid in 25 c. c. of the peroxide solution (Marchand's), 

 and then to add the 10 grams of prepared raw beef. Naturally, the 

 peroxide solution produced an immediate and pronounced change in 

 the character of the proteid, and doubtless such diminution of diges- 

 tive action as is apparent from the result is attributable to an altera- 

 tion in the proteid, rather than to any change in the ferment itself. 

 The experiment may therefore well be taken as illustrative of the 

 extent to which a comparatively large amount of hydrogen peroxide 

 will convert the easily digestible proteids of raw tissue into more 

 difficultly digestible products, A control experiment, with 25 c. c. 

 of the peroxide solution alone, shows that a small amount of the 

 raw proteid is dissolved by this agent itself. 



