BIOCHEMISTRY: ABEL AND PINCOFFS 
507 
displacements of the same sign and order of magnitude as the stable 
lines of groups a and h. 
Tests of recently published wave-lengths of calcium and manganese 
show that they are contaminated by the disturbing influence of pole 
effect and it appears probable that Kttle of the new work in wave-length 
determination is sufficiently free from this influence to meet the more and 
more exacting demands of the present and immediate future, for high 
accuracy in wave-length measurement. 
We recommend that light be taken from a narrow equatorial zone of 
a 4 to 5 fold enlarged image of an iron arc of the Pfund type 12 mm. long 
carrying a current of 5 amperes. With such an arc the exposure time for 
the region X 5600 to the violet is not excessive; for the region, X 5600 to 
X 6000, it is somewhat long when very high dispersion is required; but in 
this region the International arc is entirely lacking in stable lines and no 
element yields a sufficient number of lines of good quality here ; from X 6000 
to the red the International Secondaries belong to group h. They are free 
from perturbing influences and for them any form of iron arc may be 
used as the source. 
To obtain dependable wave-lengths of other elements the necessary 
preliminary is an examination for pole efifect. If it is found to be present, 
a method for its elimination should be worked out and applied before 
attempting the wave-length measurements. As the method of the elim- 
ination depends upon the element, the problem of wave-length deter- 
mination is no longer one of mere routine but offers opportunities for a 
real investigation. 
^Smithsonian Physical Tables, p. 172. 
2 Trans. Int. Union Coop. Solar Research, 4, (59). 
3 St. John, C. E., and Babcock, H. D., Mt. Wilson Contrih., No. 106; Astroph. J., Chicago, 
42, 1915, (231-262). 
^St. John, C. E., Mt. Wilson Contrih., No. 123, pages 11 and 27; Astroph. J., Chicago, 
44, 1916, (311-341), pages 321 and 337. 
ON THE PRESENCE OF ALBUMOSES IN EXTRACTS OF THE 
POSTERIOR LOBE OF THE HYPOPHYSIS CEREBRI 
By John J. Abel and M. C. PincofTs 
FROM THE PHARMACOLOGICAL LABORATORY, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY 
Communicated July 2, 1917 
In recent years some very definite statements have been made in 
respect to the chemical nature of the active principle or principles of 
the hypophysis cerebri (pituitary gland). Among the claims advanced 
none are more sharply defined than those pubHshed by H. Fuhner^ on 
