384 On the Optical Activity of Hemoglobin and Globin. [Jan. 31,. 



of globin in 100 c.c. It exhibited in the most characteristic manner 

 the reactions of globin. 



The tube employed measured 1 decimetre. The angle of rotation 

 (mean of many determinations) was - l c, 30. 



From the above data, it follows that in the case of this feebly 

 acid solution of globin, containing 2*4 per cent., the specific rotation 

 [a] c = -54°-2. 



2. The faintly straw-coloured solution obtained by the decomposition 

 of haemoglobin by means of dilute hydrochloric acid, the addition of 

 alcohol and repeated agitation with ether, was placed in a shallow 

 capsule in a current of air for some hours and afterwards on the 

 water-bath at the temperature of 40° C. In this way all the ether 

 and some of the alcohol were expelled. The perfectly clear straw- 

 coloured solution, which had a density of 987*4 at 16° C, contained 

 0*98 gramme of solid matter in 100 c.c. 



Monochromatic sodium light was employed in the polarimetric 

 observations. The tube employed measured 1 decimetre. The angle 

 of rotation (mean of many determinations) was - 0°*64. 



From the above data, it follows that in the case of this feebly acid, 

 aqueous-alcoholic solution of globin, containing 0*98 per cent, of solids 

 the specific rotation, [a] D = - 65°*5. It may be pointed out that the 

 greater part of the discrepancy between the results of the polarimetric 

 measurements of the solution of separated globin and of the solution 

 now under discussion is to be explained by the difference in the wave- 

 length of the light, of which the rotation of the plane of polarisation 

 was determined in the two cases. 



General Conclusions. 



The following are the conclusions to which we have been led by 

 the experiments described in this paper : — 



1. Haemoglobin is a dextrogyrous albuminous body. 



2. Globin, which is the principal, or as we are inclined to believe, 

 the only albuminous product of the decomposition of haemoglobin by 

 highly dilute hydrochloric acid under the conditions determined 

 by Schulz and confirmed by our own observations, behaves as a 

 normal albuminous substance, in respect to its influence on the plane 

 of polarisation of light, i.e., it is a laevogyrous body. 



Whilst the conclusions above stated are beyond question correct, we 

 wish it to be understood that the numbers expressing the specific 

 rotation of the bodies which we have examined must be looked upon 

 as very close approximations and may need revision in the case of 

 haemoglobin by determinations carried out with a more perfectly mono- 

 chromatic and intense light than that which we have employed, and 

 in the case of globin by working with the substance in a purer condi- 



