1897.] Pylorie Ceca of Asterias Vulgaris. 1039 
Two portions were digested in a medium of 1 per cent. sodium 
carbonate and sodium bi-carbonate, the one at a temperature 
of 37° C., the other at a temperature of 21° C. Two other por- 
tions were digested in a medium of 3 per cent. Ditman’s sea- 
salt solution ; one at 37° C., the other at 21° C. Still a fifth 
portion was digested in a medium of 0.2 percent. hydrochloric 
acid at 37° C. All media were kept free from bacteria by the 
presence of thymol. The native and derived albumins were 
Temoved in each case in the same manner and then the fluids 
were all evaporated to the same small bulk, 200 cc. To each, 
600 ce. strong alcohol were added, and the albumoses and pep- 
tones thus precipitated were collected upon balanced filter 
‘papers and weighed in order to determine the relative amounts 
formed in the different digestive processes. The results 
showed that digestion had gone on most rapidly in the medium 
of sodium carbonate and sodium bi-carbonate, and moreover 
that it had gone on in this medium at a temperature of 37° C. 
more rapidly than at 21° C. This same relation held in the 
case of digestion in the sea-salt medium, that being the more 
rapid which was allowed to go on at the higher temperature. 
‘In the case of digestion in the acid medium, scarcely any al- 
-bumoses and peptones were formed, showing that in so weak 
an acid medium even as 0.2 per cent, digestion was greatly 
retarded. 
II. Diastatic Ferment. 
For this examination a dilute starch paste was made with 
-3 grams of starch to 200 cc. of water. To each of two portions 
of this paste was added an equal amount of fresh water ex- 
tract of the pyloric ceca. Both were allowed to digest, one at 
a temperature of 37° C., the other at 21° C. Within fifteen 
minutes the substance digesting at 37° C. showed, upon test- 
‘ing with iodine, the port wine color peculiar to dexterine and 
also reduced the copper of Fehling’s solution. Within half 
‘an hour these same reactions were produced in the portion 
of starch paste digesting at 21° C. Somewhat later both por- 
‘tions showed the presence of maltose in giving a negative test 
‘with iodine and a‘ reduction of Fehling’s solution. In this 
