1880.] On the Chemical Composition of Aleur one- Grains. 389 



are seen to be ovoid bodies which present no indication of a com- 

 plex structure ; occasionally a rounded mass may be distinguished at 

 the more pointed end. 



On the addition of water, the whole grain increases in size and. 

 becomes clearer, in consequence, apparently, of the solution of a part 

 of its substance. It is then seen to consist of the rounded mass 

 before mentioned, the globoid, and of a large crystalline body, the 

 crystalloid, which are imbedded in a more or less spherical mass of 

 proteid ground-substance. 



The action of water is not affected by previous treatment of the 

 grains with either alcohol or ether. The following results show that 

 the solvent action of NaCl and MgS0 4 solutions is profoundly modified 

 by such treatment. 



1. Grains treated with ether : — 



a. The ground-substance dissolves readily in 10 per cent. NaCl 

 solution, and partially in saturated NaCl or MgS0 4 solution. 



/3. The crystalloid dissolves very slowly in 10 per cent. NaCl solu- 

 tion, but it is quite insoluble in saturated NaCl or MgS0 4 solution. 



7. The whole grain dissolves readily in 20 per cent. NaCl or MgS0 4 

 solution. 



2. Grains treated with alcohol (or with alcohol and ether) : — 



a. The ground-substance dissolves readily in 10 per cent. NaCl 

 solution, and partially in saturated NaCl or MgS0 4 solution. 



/3. The crystalloid dissolves slowly in 10 per cent. NaCl solution, 

 but entirely and at once in saturated NaCl or MgS0 4 solution. If the 

 grains, after treatment with alcohol, be washed with water, the crys- 

 talloids lose their solubility in saturated NaCl or MgS0 4 solution, but 

 regain it on further treatment with alcohol. 



7. Both the ground- substance and the crystalloid dissolve very 

 readily in 20 per cent. NaCl and MgS0 4 solutions; the crystalloid dis- 

 solves more readily after treatment with alcohol than it does after 

 treatment with ether only. 



b. Chemical Observations. — If crushed seeds be treated with water, 

 after the oil has been extracted from them by alcohol or ether, a fluid 

 is obtained which gives a precipitate on boiling. The filtrate, after 

 evaporation to small bulk, gives a. precipitate on being poured into 

 alcohol. The substance precipitated is readily soluble in distilled 

 water ; the solution gives the reactions characteristic of a fluid 

 holding peptone in solution. The substance does not dialyse. In 

 these particulars it resembles the substances found in the seeds of the 

 lupin and of the peony, and it may therefore be also termed hemial- 

 bumose. It is probably this substance which is seen to be dissolved 

 when the grains are treated with water under the microscope. 



1. Seeds treated with ether : — 



a. When extracted with 10 per cent. NaCl solution, a fluid is 

 VOL. XXX. 2 p 



