108 Dr.S. B.Schryver. Some Investigations Dealing [Aug. 12, 
the salt in solution on the disaggregatine capacity of the latter could be 
obtained. 
The above generalisations as to the action of salts are probably capable of 
application to other systems. Considerable controversy has arisen as to the 
nature of the reaction between toxin and antitoxin. Arrhenius and his 
followers maintain, on the one hand, that it is analogous to the reaction 
between weak acid and weak base; other investigators hold, on the other 
hand, that it is of the nature of an adsorption phenomenon. If either or both 
of the reacting substances are of colloidal nature, adsorption of substances 
from the reaction medium (serum, etc.) would take place, and even if the 
reaction be of chemical nature, deviation from the ordinary laws of chemical 
mass action should be observed, owing to the sterical inhibition by adsorbed 
molecules. The amount of action would depend upon the medium in which 
it takes place. Investigations have been already commenced with the object 
of determining the influence of salts on the toxin-antitoxin reaction, and on 
other physiological and pathological phenomena. 
B. EXPERIMENTAL.—I. THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SALT SOLUTIONS. 
Throughout this work normal and not molar solutions have been 
employed. The sodium salts have been generally prepared by adding to 
2N sodium hydroxide approximately the amount of acid necessary for 
neutralisation, one drop of a 1-per-cent. phenolphthalein being used as 
indicator. Neutralisation was completed by the addition of further 
quantities of acid in very weak solution, until the pink colour of the 
phenolphthalein just disappeared. The solutions after cooling were diluted 
till the normal concentration was attained. 
The solutions of chlorides of metals other than sodium were standardised 
by silver nitrate, volumetrically in the cases of magnesium and the alkali 
metals, gravimetrically in the case of the other alkaline earths. The 
sulphocyanide solution was standardised volumetrically by silver nitrate 
with the use of iron alum as indicator. 
The sodium iodide solution was made up by neutralising 2N sodium 
hydroxide with hydriodic acid, which had been freshly distilled over red 
phosphorus, and was of only very faint yellow colour. The standard solution 
was kept in the dark. 
Viscosity Determinations. 
In order to work with small quantities of solution, a modification of 
Rontgen and Schneider’s apparatus was employed, which is figured in the 
accompanying sketch. 
