10 Mr. J. Thompson. Action of [Aug. 27 , 



Table V. — Percentages. 





a. 



b. 





grm. 



per cent. 



grin. 



per cent. 



Carbon dioxide 



1 -64 



28 -8 



1 -84 



31 -2 





3 -50 



61 -3 



3-44 



58 -5 



Formic acid 



0-15 



2-6 



0-22 



3-7 





0-17 



3-0 



0-03 



5 



Total 



5-46 



95 -7 



5-53 



93 -9 





5 -70 





5 -88 





Table VI. — Carbon atoms. 





a. 



b. 





1 -26 



1 -36 





3-92 



3 -74 





0-11 



-15 





0-19 



0-03 



Total 



5 -48 



5-28 



Citric acid 



= C 6 H 8 7 . 





In a third experiment the carbon dioxide and acetic acid only were- 

 determined. 



c. Carbon dioxide l - 76 grms. 



Acetic acid 3 - 62 „ 



From these three experiments the following molecular ratios are- 

 obtained : — 



Experiment 



a. 



6. 



c. 



CO 

 C 2 H 4 2 



0-64 



0-73 



0-66 



Neglecting the small amounts of formic and succinic acids, this ratio- 

 corresponds with the following equation for the anaerobic decomposition, 

 of citric acid by B. cloacce, in which the molecular ratio 



C0 2 /C 2 H 4 2 = f = 0-67. 

 (1) 4C 6 H 8 7 + 4H 2 = 9C 2 H 4 2 + 6C0 2 . 



