1880.] Hydrolytic Ferments of Pancreas and Small Intestine. 393 



from vitellin, I verified the results by using MgS0 4 , in accordance 

 with the researches of Hammarsten (" Ueb. das Paraglobnlin," 

 " Pfliiger's Archiv," 1878). 



In conclusion, I would add a few remarks to those which I made in 

 my former communication with reference to the relation between the 

 globulins and the hemialbumose existing in seeds and the various 

 bodies, such as conglutin, legumin, &c, which Ritthausen has ex- 

 tracted from them. I therein expressed my concurrence with Weyl's 

 opinion that these caseins are the products of the alteration of the 

 globulins effected by the alkaline solutions used in extracting them. 

 I still maintain this view, but I think now that it is only a partial ex- 

 planation. My observations, more particularly those on the peony, 

 make it clear that a considerable proportion of these caseins is hemial- 

 bumose precipitated by the dilute acetic acid which is used in Ritt- 

 hausen's method for throwing down the caseins from the alkaline 

 extracts. 



IV. " Some Observations upon the Hydrolytic Ferments of the 

 Pancreas and Small Intestine." By Horace T. Brown, 

 F.I.C., F.C.S., and John Heron, F.C.S. Communicated by 

 Dr. W. Roberts, F.R.S. Received April 15, 1880. 



We were requested a few months ago by Dr. W. Roberts to verify a 

 statement, recently made by Musculus and De Mering, that maltose is 

 a product of the action of an aqueous extract of pancreas upon starch- 

 paste. During the prosecution of the inquiry, and while following 

 up certain lines of experiment which suggested themselves from time 

 to time, we have, besides fully confirming the results of the above- 

 mentioned observers, ascertained certain facts which we believe are of 

 some physiological importance in elucidating the still very obscure 

 processes of animal digestion and nutrition. 



I. Hydrolytic Action of the Pancreas. 

 The first observation upon the amylolytic action of the pancreatic 

 secretion appears to have been made by Bouchardat and Sandras* in 

 the year 1845. The general functions of the gland were more fully 

 studied in 1856 by Claude Bernard,f and a few years later by Cohn- 

 heim (" Yirchow's Archiv," 28, 241, 1863). D anile wski+ in 1862, and 

 Hiifner (" Journ. f. Prakt. Chem." [2], 5, 1872, 396), ten years later, 



* " Des Fonctions du Pancreas, et de son Influence dans la Digestion des Fecu- 

 lents." " Compt. Rend.," 20, 1085. 



f " Memoire sur le Pancreas." 1856, " Legons de Physiologie Experhnentale." 

 Paris, 1856. 



X " Ueber specifisch wirkende Korper des Naturlichen und Kiinstlichen Pancrea- 

 tischen Saftes." " Yirchow's Archiv," 1852, 25, 279. 



