2 58 



K. ASO. 



found also some iron in one of tliem, and further, since it has 

 been shown by Hofer, Macalhim and others that the enzymes 

 are secreted by the nuclei (at first in a state of zymogen), and 

 moreover as Bunge, Macallum and Stoklasa have observed some 

 nucleoproteids containing iron, I was led to the following tests, 

 which show that there occur in tea-leaves nucleoproteids that 

 contain not only iron but also manganese. Whether one and 

 the same nucleoprpteid contains both these met ils, or whether 

 there be two nucleoproteids of which one contains iron and the 

 other manganese, was however not decided by my tests. 



I proceeded as follows : 

 200 prams of air-dried tea-leaves were powdered and extracted 

 first with ether and then with alcohol, then digested with artificial 

 gastric juice for 24 hours at 38 0 C. The residue was treated with 

 dilute ammonia and the solution precipitated by slightly 

 acidifying it with acetic acid. The dark brown 1 gelatinous 

 precipitate thus obtained was washed with dilute acetic acid, 

 then with water, arid dried and powdered. This substance was 

 again dissolved in dilute ammonia and precipitated with absolute 

 alcohol (a). The brown precipitate was thoroughly washed with 

 alcohol and ether, and then subjected to digestion with artificial 

 gastric juice for 3 ) hours at 37°-38° C. The residue was dissolved 

 in dilute ammonia, and precipitated and well washed with 

 alcohol. The dark brown substance thus obtained, contained 

 phosphorus and yielded for 100 parts of dry matt r : 



The filtnte of the precipitate (a) was again precipitated with 

 acetic acid, and the dark brown precipitate thus o taiued r.as, 

 after being washed with dilute acetic acid, subjected to artificial 

 digestion for 24 hours at C. The indigestible residue w is 

 dissolved in dilute ammonia and again precipitated with acetic 

 acid, washed thoroughly with dilute acetic acid, alcohol, and 

 etner, and dried. This substance contained : 



1 The brown color may have been partly due to traces of oxidised tannin. 



N . 

 Fe. 

 Mn 



