390 



Profs. A. Gamgee and W. Jones. 



[Feb. % 



was found to be rich in material which yields xanthine bases on 

 hydrolysis with sulphuric acid. 



The main portion of the gland substance, purified by the processes 

 above described, was treated with 20 parts of water, and to the filtered 

 solution acetic acid was added, drop by drop. When a quantity of 

 acid had been added sufficient to bring the amount of acid in the 

 entire solution to 1 per cent., a well-defined white, flocculent, precipi- 

 tate separated. This precipitate of nucleoproteid was separated by 

 the centrifuge, suspended in water, and treated with an extremely 

 dilute solution of ammonia, drop by drop, and the reaction of the 

 liquid continuously tested with litmus. A very small amount of alkali 

 was needed to neutralise the adherent acetic acid, when the solution 

 became neutral and remained so until approximately twice as much 

 ammonia had been used as had been required to completely dissolve 

 the nucleoproteid. Evidently, the nucleoproteid is, at least, a dibasic- 

 acid, whose acid ammonium salt is soluble in water and neutral to 

 litmus. 



Purification of the nucleoproteid was effected by alternate solution 

 in ammonia and precipitation with a minimal quantity' of acetic acid. 

 The final solution was poured into five volumes of 95 per cent, alcohol, 

 washed repeatedly by decantation with excessively large quantities oi 

 95 per cent, alcohol and ether, and then placed in an exsiccator over 

 sulphuric acid. 



Optical Properties* 



1. A weighed amount of the nucleoproteid was suspended in water 

 and dissolved by the addition of a trace of ammonia. The solution 

 was made up to a definite volume with water, and examined polari- 

 metrically : 



Weight of substance (W) ... 1 *006 gramme. 



Volume of solution (V) 25 c.c. 



Observed angle (a) -f 3 ; 4' 



Length of tube (L) 200 mm. 



[~jd = + 38°*1. 



2. The results of the above observation were confirmed by the ex- 

 amination of another preparation of nucleoproteid. 



Weight of substance 0" 500 gramme. 



Volume of solution 25 c.c. 



Observed angle +1° 30' 



Length of tube 200 mm. 



[a] J, = ^37°-5. 



The solution was treated with an excess of acetic acid and the pre- 

 cipitate filtered off. The filtrate was found to be inactive. 



