432 CHEMISTRY OF THE LEUOOMAINS.. 



carbohydrates yield the characteristic hexose unit. On similar treat- 

 ment the protamins, and to less extent the more complex proteids, 

 may be considered as yielding the equally characteristic hexon unit. 

 In the case of sturin Kossel and Kutscher ' have rendered it prob- 

 able that a molecule of this protamin breaks up into four molecules 

 of arginin and one each of histidin and lysin. 



In view of the marked germicidal properties possessed by nucleinic 

 acid it is of great interest to note that the protamins are likewise 

 destructive to bacteria. This fact has been shown by H. KosseP who 

 tested the action of sturin and of its carbonate upon a number of 

 germs. The most noticeable effect was obtained with the cholera 

 vibrio. These, in water suspension, were killed within five minutes 

 by sturin carbonate in dilutions as high as 1 to 10,000. Even a 1 

 to 50,000 solution exerted a marked action, though the time required 

 was several hours. Typhoid bacilli and staphylococci were obviously 

 not destroyed as readily, but a marked diminution was observed when 

 the protamin was allowed to act for twenty-four hours. Spores of 

 anthrax however were not affected. Solutions of protamin carbonate 

 in ox-serum in a strength of 1 to 5,000 destroyed anthrax bacilli within 

 four hours. On the other hand cholera and typhoid bacilli, though 

 greatly diminished in numbers, were still present in viable condition 

 at the end of that time. 



It is evident from the above quoted experiments that the animal 

 cell possesses germicidal substances other than nucleinic acid. It 

 should be remembered, however, that the protamins are by no means 

 widely distributed ; on the contrary they appear to be restricted to 

 the spermatozoa of certain animals. 



Another fact brought out by H. Kossel is the marked poisonous 

 action of protamins and of histon. Injected subcutaneously the pro- 

 tamins produce in guinea-pigs severe local inflammation which brings 

 on extensive exudate and finally pronounced necrosis. When injected 

 intraperitoneally or intravenously both substances cause death in a 

 few minutes. The fact that histon possessed toxic properties was 

 first pointed out by Novy.' When thymus histon was injected sub- 

 cutaneously into guinea-pigs a slight temporary depression of tem- 

 perature followed. This was followed in a few hours by an increase 

 of 1 to 1.5°, which would persist for two or more days. Necrosis 

 at the point of inoculation was frequently observed. In rabbits in- 

 travenous injections produced exceedingly rapid effects, death often 

 resulting in a few minutes. 



Since then the toxic action of histon has been recognized by Kos- 

 sel and by Thompson. The fall in blood pressure, the change in 

 respiratory movements, the retarding effect upon coagulation and the 



^Zeiis. phydnl. Ghem., 31, 185 ; 25, 184. 

 ^Zeits. f. Hygiene, 27, 36, 1898. 

 'Joum. Exp. Med., 1, 709, 1896. 



