28 



Scientific Proceedings (26). 



small amounts of acid, alkali or certain alkaloids took the place 

 of potassium cyanide showed no such results. 



It would seem therefore that the oxidative processes, which 

 perhaps in combination with other chemical processes, take place 

 through the action of light upon cells in fluorescent solution, must 

 be of a different character from the oxidative processes taking place 

 in respiration and in cell division, since the former are accelerated 

 instead of, like the latter, being inhibited by the action of potass- 

 ium cyanide. Since in a hydrogen atmosphere the addition of 

 potassium cyanide does not cause this specific effect, the action of 

 potassium cyanide in markedly increasing the destructive action of 

 light cannot be a primary one but can only follow or accompany 

 the primary oxidation processes. In contradistinction to the oxi- 

 dative processes of respiration these oxidative processes are not 

 prevented or inhibited by potassium cyanide. 



As to the way in which potassium cyanide produces this accel- 

 erating effect upon the action of light in fluorescent solution, there 

 may be a number of explanations suggested. It is conceivable 

 that the potassium cyanide accelerates certain oxidative processes 

 in the protoplasm. Analogies for such an accelerating action 

 exist in the behavior of potassium cyanide toward certain inorganic 

 catalysers. According to Loevenhart and Kastle potassium 

 cyanide accelerates the splitting action of copper or iron on hydro- 

 gen peroxide. On the other hand, potassium cyanide not only 

 inhibits the action of ferments like catalase and oxidative ferments 

 but also hydrolytic catalysers. Potassium cyanide might there- 

 fore in the cases which we are considering, exert an influence on 

 hydrolytic processes which are perhaps secondary to the primary 

 oxidations caused by light. But it is also conceivable that the 

 potassium cyanide does not produce its effect by acting directly 

 upon the cell protoplasm but that, through its addition to the 

 fluorescent substance it brings about some change in the character 

 of the radiant energy whereby the disorganizing oxidation is accel- 

 erated. Whichever of these explanations may prove to be the 

 correct one it is certain that under the conditions of these experi- 

 ments potassium cyanide does not prevent oxidative processes in 

 the cells. 



