Scientific Proceedings. 



(245) 75 



after failure with alcohol, a water-soluble compound — apparently 

 sodium mucoid. This fact has not been published hitherto, although 

 it was stated at that time that organic compounds, such as gelato- 

 mucoid, had been obtained. 1 



The author has lately prepared calcium, sodium, potassium and 

 ammonium salts of mucoid by the following process : The gluco- 

 protein was obtained in slightly alkaline solution. This solution 

 was dialyzed until neutral and then was poured into a large excess 

 of 95 per cent, alcohol, by which treatment the mucoid was imme- 

 diately precipitated. Initial purification was effected by resolution, 

 dialysis and reprecipitation. The products were rendered anhy- 

 drous by treatment with absolute alcohol and ether. Probably all 

 bases yield such salts, although the author confined his remarks 

 to salts of inorganic hydroxids. 



The comparatively pure inorganic salts of the mucoids thus 

 prepared are light, snow-white powders. They dissolve in water 

 very readily and are dissociable products. The concentrated solu- 

 tions resemble mucus. The aqueous solutions are neutral to litmus 

 and acid to phenolphthalein. Ammonium compounds have been 

 prepared that were acid to litmus also. The calcium salt yields 

 about 12 per cent, of ash, whereas the corresponding mucoid is 

 practically ash free. It is very probable that the mucins in the 

 secretions occur in the form of such salts, as Muller has already 

 suggested. Yeast nucleoprotein has yielded similar products. 

 Presumably other nucleoproteins will do so also. 



The author believes these observations clear the way for impor- 

 tant discoveries connected with the glucoproteins, nucleoproteins, 

 proteinates and similar protein products. Numerous studies in 

 this connection were suggested in the oral communication to the 

 Society and are proceeding with the cooperation of the workers 

 in the author's laboratory. The best method of preparing the 

 compounds referred to has not yet been definitely ascertained, but 

 the author hopes to describe it in detail at an early date. 



1 Gies : Loc. cit., 1903, viii (Proc. Amer. Physiol. Soc, 1902, p. xliii) ; Biochem- 

 ical Researches, 1903, i, p. 54. Also Posner and Gies, American Journal of Physiology, 

 1904, xi, p. 404. 



