126 



Scientific Proceedings (66). 



available) one may estimate that in 100 grams of meat there are 

 27.16 grams of these six non-sugar-producing acids which on 

 normal oxidation yield a respiratory quotient of 0.765 instead of 

 0.716 which was calculated. The lack of exact correspondence 

 shows the comparative crudeness of the methods involved. It 

 must also be remembered that the quantities present in meat of 

 cystine and especially of serine, both of which are sugar formers, 

 are unknown. 



76 (1008) 



On a simple method of diagnosing pregnancy, based upon the 

 presence of specific enzymes in the urine. 



By R. H. Malone, M.D. 



[From the Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montreal.] 



It has been clearly demonstrated by Abderhalden and the 

 host of workers following in his footsteps, that protective enzymes 

 are developed in the body as a result of the presence of a foreign 

 protein in the blood stream, whether that protein be derived from 

 placental tissue, or carcinoma in the body, or be introduced from 

 without for experimental purposes. 



These enzymes, proteolytic in nature, have been found in the 

 serum: their function is to digest the foreign protein and split 

 it into amino-acids, in which form it may properly circulate in 

 the blood stream, and be absorbed by the cells. 



While working with Dr. A. A. Bruere at the Royal Victoria 

 Hospital, Montreal, on a method of performing the Abderhalden 

 Cancer test without the use of dialyzing thimbles, it was observed 

 that a serum which gave a strongly positive test after incubation 

 for 20 hours, was negative on the following day. The suggestion 

 was made that certain enzymes had dialyzed out, causing the 

 further splitting of peptone and amino-acids into simpler bodies 

 which would not give the Ninhydrin reaction. Theoretically one 

 might now expect that an enzyme which is dialyzable through a 

 parchment thimble would also pass through the kidney and be 

 found in the urine. 



It was at this stage that Professor Adami called my attention 



