PROPERTIES OF MANURES 243 



Pinna,^ and its action of oxidation and deoxida- 

 tion is rougUy represented by the following equa- 

 tions : — 



(a) (Globulin - 2Mn02) = (Globulin - 2MnO) + O^. 

 (0) (Globulin - 2MnO) + 0^ = (Globulin - 2Mn02). 



Concerning the author's investigations on re- 

 spiratory proteids, two letters may be quoted : — 



(1) The late Lord Playfair said :— 



" I have read your book through with the greatest interest, and 

 it is quite a revelation to me that so much good chemical work has 

 been done on the subject. I congratulate you on the large part 

 you have taken in the researches which I hope you will continue. 

 I do not at all feel inclined to differ with the large number of atoms 

 in a molecule of these bodies. They are bound to be very complex 

 in their constitution." 



The remarks are of interest as Lord Playfair 

 was, in his youth, the translator of Liebig's famous 

 work already mentioned in these pages. 



(2) Prof. J. G. McKendrick, LL.D., 

 F.R.S., said:— 



" I have read your book with much interest. It contains a large 

 amount of information quite new to me, and it indicates on your 

 part much labour. The good size of the molecules of many of the 

 substances has always interested me. There is much to learn. 

 Why should bodies having these respiratory properties be so ex- 

 tremely complicated ? Why should the molecule be so large ? We 

 may be sure there is a reason for this, and that it is the most 



* A. B. Griffiths, Comptes Bendus, 1. 114, p. 840 ; and Respiratory 

 Proteids, p. 58. 



R 2 



