No. 524] SPIEGLER'S "WHITE MELANIN" 501 



The results obtained are given in the following table. 



If the theory of v. Furth 15 is correct that melanin 

 formation is the product of an oxydase acting upon an 

 oxidizable- chromogen, it would appear very probable 

 that dominant whiteness is due to the presence of an 

 inhibitory enzyme 10 in the epithelial cells which pre- 

 vents the action of the oxydase, and that recessive whites 

 differ by having neither the power to produce pigments, 

 i. e.j lack of oxydase or chromogen, or both, nor do they 

 possess the ant i oxydase which distinguishes the domi- 

 nant whites. This being the case, the one type would 

 be always dominant, its determiner being the anti- 

 eiizynie, and the other type (/. c, albinos) would of neces- 

 sity be recessive, inasmuch as. while they lack the power 

 to produce pigment, they also are without means of in- 

 hibiting pigment production when the elements for its 



