1903.] On the Optical Activity of Haemoglobin and Globin. 381 



oxygen ; another portion was agitated with pure CO so as completely 

 to expel the oxygen from its combination with haemoglobin and 

 replace it by carbonic oxide. In this way were obtained two solutions 

 of haemoglobin identical in so far as the quantity of colouring matter 

 which they contained, but differing in the fact that in the one case the 

 haemoglobin was in combination with oxygen and in the other with 

 •CO. The solutions were examined in tubes of the same length 

 under the same conditions of illumination. The result was to show 

 that the rotations were identical in the two cases, having the mean 

 value represented by the specific rotation (a) c = + 10°'0. 



It is to be remarked that the observations recorded under A and 

 "C were carried out subsequent to those on CO-haemoglobin recorded 

 under B. In the case, particularly, of observations A, the intensity 

 and steadiness of the monochromatic red light employed was, in con- 

 sequence of the experience previously acquired, more satisfactory 

 than in observations B. We are therefore inclined to consider the 

 numbers expressing the specific rotation of haemoglobin which we 

 have obtained as the result of observations A to be most worthy 

 of confidence. We do not pretend that these numbers may not 

 need slight modification as the result of future work, though we 

 believe that they are a very close approximation to the tr uth. 



2. — Determination of the Optical Activity of Globin. 



Preyer gave the name of Globin to the albuminous product of the 

 spontaneous decomposition of haemoglobin, without, however, being 

 able to furnish any precise account of its properties, its chemical com- 

 position, or its relationship to other albuminous bodies. A compara- 

 tively recent investigation which we owe to Fr. N. Schulz,* and the 

 results of which have been substantially confirmed by Ivar Bang,t 

 has placed us in possession of valuable and suggestive facts concerning 

 the main albuminous product resulting from the decomposition of 

 haemoglobin. He has shown that when a solution of haemoglobin is 

 decomposed by the addition of small quantities of hydrochloric acid, 

 it yields, as main products, 4/2 per cent, of haematin and 86*5 per 

 cent, of a characteristic albuminous substance for which he retains the 

 name of globin. He has shown that this substance belongs to the 

 class of " the Histons," so that it would have been preferable, in our 

 opinion, if Schulz had applied to his new body such a name as 

 " Haemato-Histon," which would have indicated both its origin and its 

 affinities. 



Schulz's method of preparing globin, as described by him, is essen- 



* Schulz, Dr. Fr. N., " Die Eiweisskdrper des Haemoglobins," ' Zeitschr. f. 

 physiol. Chemie, vol. 24 (1898), p. 449. 



t Bang, Ivar, " Studien liber Histon," < Zeitschr. f. physiol. Chem.,' 1899, 

 p. 463. 



