8 Dr. A. L. Gillespie. Chemistry of the Contents of the 



No growths were obtained from the contents of the stomach or 

 jejunum of a dog fed on sterilised milk, and only four from the 

 material in the duodenum. Large numbers were present below this 

 part. The contents of the entire intestinal canal of a calf did not 

 yield a single liquefying organism, while the total number grown was 

 very small, as far down as the lower half of the ileum. 



The administration of dilute hydrochloric acid was followed by a 

 decrease in the number of organisms present in each section of the 

 ^anal, and especially of the organisms capable of liquefying gelatine. 

 Carbonate of sodium, on the other hand, caused no diminution in the 

 numbers found in the upper parts of the tract, but — corresponding 

 to an increase in acidity in the contents of the lower sections — 

 occasioned a diminution of liquefying forms in the ileum and large 

 intestine. 



The administration of antiseptic drugs yielded very interesting 

 results. When salol was given, no diminution in the number of 

 organisms was observed until the ileum was reached, when the 

 organisms capable of liquefying gelatine became very few in number. 

 After calomel, the upper sections contained a small number of bac- 

 teria, the lower parts a large number which were chiefly of the class 

 able to liquefy gelatine. 



No trace of the decomposition products of salol could be detected 

 in any of the sections above the upper half of the ileum. In this 

 portion of the canal only a faint reaction was obtained. In the 

 lower part of the ileum and in the large intestine the reaction was 

 well marked. 



The exhibition of other antiseptic drugs was quickly followed by 

 a sensible diminution in the number of the organisms present. 



Extract of hematoxylin was given for the purpose of testing the 

 action of an astringent on intestinal fermentation. The number of 

 organisms was rather increased during its administration. 



Trypsin. 



Although the contents of the bowel were always acid, trypsin was 

 found to be active in them. Perhaps this fact may explain why this 

 ferment is secreted for so many hours after food, when pepsin is only 

 secreted during the duration of stay of food in the stomach. Acids, 

 however weak, gradually destroy trypsin ; the acid in the bowel 

 must do so, but this destructive action is compensated for by a con- 

 stant secretion of more of the ferment. 



The action of trypsin on proteids in the presence of organic acids 

 was investigated in the dog fed upon sterilised milk. 



To 10 cub. cm, of a solution of egg-albumin containing OH5 

 gram albumin. 5 cub. cm. of the contents of each section of the 



