lo6 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE INVERTEBRATA. 



or carbonates coulcl be detected in the salivary glands of Helix. 

 Similar results have been obtained with the salivary glands 

 oi Limax flavus, and Limcu: maxinuis. 



The so-called livers of Helix aspersa, Limax Jlavus, and 

 Limax maximus are pancreatic in function. 



Dr. M. Levy* has recently carefully examined the so-called 

 liver of Helix pomatia,. The weight of its organic constituents 

 is very constant, being the same in summer and winter, and 

 in great measure they are the same in kind in all periods of 

 the year. The alcoholic extract of the gland when examined 

 by the spectroscope gave the spectrum of enterochlorophyll. 

 The digestive ferments present are a diastatic, a peptic, but 

 not a tryptic one. The peptic ferment appears to be iden- 

 tical with the late Y),v. Krukenberg's helicopepsin. The 

 diastatic ferment disappears during the winter sleep ; it is 

 capable of digesting raw starch, but has no action on cellulose, 

 A fat emulsifying action is shown by the secretion in the 

 summer-time, but this also disappears during hibernation. 



The ferment, by means of which this action, is brought 

 about, is not identical with the one described by Dr. Schmiede- 

 bergt as histozyme. Histozyme, which was separated from 

 pigs' kidneys, is concerned in the splitting up of hippuric 

 acid. The snail's ferment has no such action. According to 

 Dr. Levy, glycogen with sinistrin is generally present in the 

 organ, but all tests for hile gave a negative result. Jecorin 

 was also absent. Dr. Levy has separated the following sub- 

 stances from the so-called liver of Helit: pomntia : — 



/ Enterochlorophyll 

 Lecithin 

 Oleic acid 

 Fatty acids 



1' Chlorine 

 Phosphoric acid 

 Sulphuric acid. 



In the ethereal extract J A trace of fat. 



* Zeit. Biol., vol. 27, p. 398. 



t Architt. Ea'per. Path, und JPkarm.. vol. 14. 



In the alcoholic extract 1 



