CHEMICAL LABILITY. 



21 



Later followed the preparation of paraamidobenzaldehyde 

 and of amidovaleraldehyde. 1 ) Quite recently the amidoethyl- 

 aldehyde was prepared by E. Fischer** This substance is only 

 stable in form of salts, and changes so rapidly after being set 

 free, that it loses its power of reducing Folding's solution within 

 one hour, and becomes transformed into a gelatinous substance. 

 Also the diamido-aceton soon changes spontaneously to an amor- 

 phous substance if set free from its combination with acids. 5) 

 We observe therefore, that there exist labil amido-combinations 

 which undergo spontaneously a rapid change, — losing thereby 

 their original characteristics. — That here is a certain analogy to 

 the change of protoplasm, when it passes from life to death, can 

 hardly be denied if we see, that hydroxylamin and diamid, the 

 most characteristic properties of which is their great ability to 

 react in high dilution and at ordinary temperature upon al- 

 dehydes, — have no longer any action upon dead protoplasm, nor any 

 influence upon ordinary soluble proteids at ordinary temperature. 4) 

 — Those physiologists, who still cling to the old notions of the 

 identity of proteids in the living and the dead protoplasm, will 

 never have an understanding of the cause of the vital functions, 

 they will be at a loss to conceive the method of poisonous 

 actions ! 



If a change takes place from a labil to a stable character, 

 if the cell dies, the reverse transformation must succeed, if by 

 growing and multiplying animal cells pepton is resorbed for the 

 formation of living protoplasm. Here kinetic energy is trans- 

 formed into potential energy, passive groups become active ones. 

 Labil combinations occupy a larger molecular volume than the 

 isomeric stable ones, hence work must be produced by the 

 conversion of the latter into the former. On the other hand 

 contraction and development of heat will result if the active, 

 labil albumen passes into the passive condition. Contraction 

 of the protoplasm is indeed taking place with the death of the 



1) Wolffenstcin, Ber. Deutsch. Chem. Ges. Vol. 25, p. 2777. 



2) Ibid. Vol. 26, p. 92. 



3) Ritghcimcr and Mischel, Ibid. Vol. 25, p. 1563. 



4) It would be incompatible with the spirit of science to avoid the logical 

 conclusions to which the toxicological facts mentioned, must lead. There exist 

 physiologists who would declare all conclusions premature, but have they considered 

 what good grounds exist for such an assertion ? 



