728 General Notes, [July, 
the proteid matter, and also to a direct stimulation of the ferment. 
Likewise peptone tends to diminish in a similar manner the 
retarding action of the various percentages of sodium carbonate. 
To accomplish this, however, the amount of peptone must be. 
proportionate to the percentage of alkaline carbonate. 7. Pep- 
tone tends to prevent the destructive action of dilute sodium car- 
bonate on salivary ptyalin, thus giving proof of the probable 
formation of an alkaline-proteid body. 8. Saliva with its proteid 
matter saturated with acid appears to have a greater diastatic 
action than when simply neutralized ; except when the acid pro- 
teids thus formed are above a certain percentage. Small percent- 
ages of peptone saturated with acid similarly increase the dias- 
tatic action of neutralized saliva up to a certain point. Increasing 
the percentage of acid-proteids finally causes a diminution of dias- 
tatic activity. 9. The retarding influence of acid-proteids is out 
of all proportion to their power of destruction. Large percent- 
_ ages, however, of acid-proteids may cause almost complete de- 
struction of the ferment. 10, The most favorable condition for 
the diastatic action of ptyalin, under most circumstances, appears 
to be a neutral condition of the fluid together with the presence 
of more or less proteid matter. The addition of very small 
amounts of hydrochloric acid, however, to di/ute solutions of 
saliva, giving thereby a small percentage of acid-proteids, appears 
to still further increase diastatic action. Under such conditions a 
minute trace of free acid appears to still further increase the 
action. 11. 0.003 per cent free hydrochloric acid almost com- 
pletely stops the amylolytic action of ptyalin. The larger the 
amount of the saturated proteids the more pronounced becomes 
the retarding action of free acids. 12. The retarding action of 
the smaller percentages of free acid are not due wholly to destruc- 
tion of the ferment. Pronounced destruction takes place with 
0.005—-0.010 per cent free hydrochloric acid. 13. Proteid matter, 
885. 
PaystoLocy OF THE SYMPATHETIC NERVES.—The generalization — 
of Dr. Gaskell “ On the relationship between the structure and the 
nction of the nerves which innervate the visceral and vascular 
systems ” are of the highest interest and importance. Dr. Gas- 
kell calls attention to the fact that involuntary muscles, visceral 
=~ and vascular as well as cardiac muscle, are supplied by two kinds 
_ of nerve fibers which are histologically distinct, the medullated 
y 
