38 
In how many particulars, however, the behavior of platinum black 
is again encountered in catalase will need to be determined by special 
investigations. Some authors hold the oxidases to be transferrers of 
oxygen, but in reality they are transferrers of chemical energy by 
which certain other compounds are enabled to take up the molecular 
oxygen directly, which they could otherwise do only at a high tem- 
perature. Spitzer ascribes to the iron organically bound in certain 
nucleo-proteids the property of inducing oxidations. The ordinary 
oxidase and peroxidase, however, as well as 6-catalase, do not possess 
the general characteristics of nucleo-proteids, but those of albumoses. 
The action of oxidizing enzyms in animals has been investigated by 
a number of authors. It has been found that a pulp made from various 
animal organs, or extracts prepared therefrom, can oxidize salicylic 
aldehyde, benzaldehyde, and formaldehyde to their corresponding 
acids. Methyl alcohol can be oxidized to formic acid, benzyl alcohol 
to benzoic acid, and the oxidation of acetone and uric acid has also— 
been observed. Various color reactions’ caused by oxidation, as the 
formation of indophenol, Bindschedler’s green, and totuylene-blue,? 
are also, according to Spitzer, induced by the animal oxidases. Of 
inorganic materials the oxidation of arsenious to arsenic acid by 
animal juices was observed by Binz. 
It appears that several oxidizing enzyms exist in animals. Pohl 
prepared extracts which were capable of oxidizing aldehydes but inca- 
pable of giving the indophenol reaction. Jacoby observed the destruc- 
tion of uric acid by dog’s liver, but not by calf’s liver. We encounter 
further contradictory statements, especially in regard to the oxidation 
of glucose and arabinose by the expressed juices of liver and pancreas. 
Jacoby found the amount of arabinose thus oxidized to be very 
small.? W. Spitzer and others have observed the destruction of a 
small amount of glucose by blood drawn from animals and by various 
extracts of animal organs.* This so-called glycolysis was ascribed to 
an oxidizing enzvm which, according to Spitzer, gives a blue reaction 
1 These color reactions are best obtained by moistening paper with the reagents and 
bringing it in contact with the animal pulp. ; 
*The colored compounds of Lauth can not, however, be formed by oxidases 
(Spitzer). , 
* This author further observed that the animal oxidase which easily oxidizes salicylic 
aldehyde to salicylic acid, is not destroyed at 70° C., and‘that small quantities of 
chloroform, or a solution of 0.1 per cent sodium hydrate, stimulate its action, while 
1 per cent sodium carbonate, or 0.3 per cent sodium hydrate, prevent it. 
*Pfluiger’s Archiv, vol. 60, p. 303 (1895). As examples he mentions that 10 ce. 
dog’s blood can destroy in one hour, at 40° C., 20 milligrams of glucose (determined 
by titration); 25 cc. defibrinated dog’s blood oxidized (completely?) at 39° C., 0.1 
gram of glucose in twenty-four hours. The serum is not active; the cellular ele- 
ments contain the active principle (Lépine, Spitzer). Addition of hydrogen peroxid 
did not promote the process of destruction, not even upon further addition of pal- 
ladium, which produced nascent oxygen from the hydrogen peroxid. 
