116 Dr.S.B.Schryver. Some Investigations Dealing [Aug. 12, 
the influence of the valency of the metals is less marked. Interpolating 
from the curves of Osborne and Harris, it will be found that a 5-per-cent. 
solution of edestin can be formed under the conditions of experiment 
employed when the concentration is 5/6 normal. A similar strength 
edestin solution in sodium chloride is formed in the concentration of 13/20 
normal. Bromide forms a 5-per-cent. solution in 9/20 normal (solubility 
capacity nearly equivalent to that of dichloracetate), whereas sodium 
iodide can form a solution of this strength in + normal concentration, and 
has a solvent power equivalent approximately to those of the benzoate and 
salicylate. The higher solvent capacities of the solutions of inorganic salts 
are again well marked. 
Part Il—On the Action of Formaldehyde on Witte’s Peptone. 
This portion of the communication contains the experimental details 
concerning the reaction of formaldelyde on Witte’s peptone, the theory of 
which has been already discussed in some detail in the first part. The 
fraction which yields the precipitate with formaldelyde is that containing the 
more complex polypeptides, as the two following series of experiments show :— 
Serves J—Fifty grammes of Witte’s peptone were extracted, first with 
600 c.c. of cold 80-per-cent. alcohol, and then with 400 ¢.¢. The alcoholic 
extract obtained was evaporated 7m vacuo, and the last traces of alcohol were 
driven off from the residue by taking it up in water and evaporating the 
solution thus obtained on a water bath. This formed Fraction I (ve. part 
soluble in 80-per-cent. alcohol). The part of the peptone insoluble in 
80-per-cent. alcohol was then extracted with 60-per-cent. alcohol, and the 
extract treated in a similar way to the 80-per-cent. alcoholic extract; this 
formed Fraction II. Fraction III was the part insoluble in 60-per-cent. 
alcohol. Each of the fractions was then made up to a definite volume in 
water, and the nitrogen in each was estimated. Portions were then taken 
from each fraction, and diluted so that solutions containing the same amount 
of nitrogen were obtained; 100 c.c. of each solution contained 0°2156 gramme 
nitrogen; 40 c.c. of these solutions were taken and to each was added 20 c.c. 
of 40-per-cent. formaldelyde. After standing, the precipitate was filtered off 
and nitrogen was estimated in aliquot parts of the filtrate. 
In Fraction I the percentage of nitrogen precipitated was 8°3. 
” IT » » 3 15°6. 
” Ii ” ” ” 40:0. 
