136 Dr. J. White. [Sept. 6, 
water and about 30 drops of chloroform. The ‘bottle was shaken ue 
for two hours, when its contents were filtered. 
To the filtrate was added half its volume of saturated solution of 
ammonium sulphate, which was found to be far more efficient in’ this 
instance for precipitating the proteins and enzymes than methylated spirit. 
The precipitate produced in this way was filtered off on to filter paper 
which had been previously sterilised with boiling water, and was dried 
in a sulphuric acid desiccator. When almost dry, the precipitate was 
scraped off the filter paper with a sterilised knife and dissolved in cold boiled 
water. : 
A small quantity of this solution was put into four test-tubes, A, B, C, 
and D. The contents of A were boiled, and into A and B was put a little 
well washed and teased fibrin. The contents of C were also boiled, and into 
C and D was put a small amount of Witte peptone. About 20 drops of 
chloroform were poured into each test-tube, and each tube was carefully 
shaken up. The ends were plugged with cotton wool, and the tubes placed 
In an oven at 35°C. Samples of the freshly made solution were tested 
for the biuret and tryptophane reactions, and it was found that distinct 
traces of peptone were discernible, but there was no sign of amido bodies in 
the solution. 
After a period of time varying from about 30 to 50 hours, the test-tubes 
A, B, C, and D were removed from the oven, and their contents were tested 
for evidences of the activity of proteolytic enzymes. Application of the 
biuret test to tubes A and B disclosed the presence of a considerable quantity 
of peptone in B, while traces were detected in A in about the same proportion 
as existed in the freshly made solution. 
To tubes C and D, the tryptophane test was applied, with the result that 
there were not the minutest signs of the presence of any amido bodies. 
Results of Experiments. 
Species Time of Reaction to Reaction to 
: digestion. biuret. tryptophane. 
D. auriculata.......cc00e 50 hours Good reaction No reaction 
D. Menziesia ...00....00+ 40 ,, re a 
D. peltata ounces 40 ,, 5 3 
D. Whittaker? ......... AO 53 Very good re- 5 
| action 
The results of this series of experiments, most of which were performed 
several times with different specimens of the same species of Drosera, serve 
