1889.] On a pure Fermentation of Mannite and Glycerin. 353 



I. 7*623 grams Ba-salfc giving 93' 76 per cent. BaS0 4 . 

 II. 2*485 grams Ba-salt giving 96'39 per cent. BaS0 4 . 



Both of these fractions were, therefore, mixtures of barium acetate 

 and formate, and by applying the formula given above their com- 

 position is found to be — 



Barium acetate. Barium formate. 



1 6*0062 grams 1*6168 grams. 



II 1*3782 „ 1*1068 „ 



7*3844 „ 2*7236 „ 



The total quantity of barium acetate obtained thus amounted to 

 7*3844 grams, corresponding to 3*4750 grams of acetic acid, whilst 

 the barium formate amounting to 2*7236 grams corresponds to 

 1*1038 grams of formic acid. 



In the residue, after distilling off the volatile acids, 0*027 gram of 

 succinic acid was obtained. 



Fermentation oe G-ltceeol. 



Pure cultivations of the same organism on being introduced into 

 perfectly similar solutions containing glycerol instead of mannitol 

 caused a vigorous fermentation of the former. The fermentation was, 

 however, distinctly less energetic than in the case of the mannitol, 

 for it was later in commencing and continued over a longer period of 

 time. The investigation of the products of this fermentation of 

 glycerol was carried out on precisely the same lines as in the case of 

 the mannitol. In each case 60 grams of pure glycerol were sub- 

 mitted to fermentation in 2 litres of water, to which the same 

 additions were made as in the case of the mannitol referred to 

 above. The liquid was fermented at 37 — 39° C, and before com- 

 mencing the chemical examination of the products it was submitted 

 to plate cultivation, with the result that no foreign organisms were 

 discoverable. 



Fermentation of Glycerol No. 1. 



This fermentation continued over a period of three months, after 

 which the chemical examination of the products was immediately 

 proceeded with. 



Alcohols. — After repeated distillation a liquid was obtained weigh- 

 ing 63*58 grams, and of specific gravity 0*9871, corresponding to 

 4*90 grams of absolute alcohol. Unfortunately, owing to an accident, 

 the liquid was lost and the alcohol was not further isolated. 



Volatile Acids. — Proceeding as in the case of the mannitol fer- 

 mentations, the following barium salts were obtained : — 



2 b 2 



