The Enzymes o/B. coli communis. 



147 



decomposition of the glucose, viz., into products of one, two and three C atoms 

 respectively. 



These three groups are primarily represented by formic acid, alcohol + 

 acetic acid, and lactic acid. Secondary reactions may occur, giving rise 

 to succinic acid, or, by an interaction of nascent H from Group 1 with 

 Group 2, the proportion of alcohol to acetic acid may be raised. 



In fig. 2 the products of the decomposition of glucose have been plotted 

 as percentages upon the portion of the glucose which has not been turned 

 into lactic acid. That is to say, the lactic acid in each case has been 



I \ i I I \ . I 1 L_ 



C A F E 3 D .H G 



Experiments arranged in order From left to right oF decreasing values oF 

 Carbon dioxide and Formic acid. 



Fig. 2. — Products of decompositioii of glucose by B. coli communis, after deducting 

 portion changed to lactic acid. 



deducted from the weight of glucose consumed, and the products have been 

 recalculated as percentages upon the remainder. The object of this treat- 

 ment is to do away with variations in the products which result merely 

 secondarily from variations in the lactic acid. One of the immediate results 

 of replotting the products in this manner is to draw attention to the con- 

 stancy of alcohol under aerobic conditions. It will be seen that in the figures 

 on the left representing anaerobic conditions alcohol shows considerable 

 fluctuations and always in an opposite direction to acetic acid. This relation- 

 ship has been observed frequently before and can only indicate that the two 

 are derived from the same precursor. The mechanism by which the variations 



