ON THE CARBOHYDRATE GROUP IN YAM MUCIN. 
245 
from 1 kilogram of the fresh tuber. 
Qualitative Reactions. 
The preparation obtained in the above described manner showed the 
following qualitative reactions. 
1) It dissolves easily in caustic alkali of about 5 % ; in weaker solutions 
it dissolves with difficulty. 
2) It dissolves in strong mineral acids as well as in strong acetic acid. 
3) It gives Xanthoprotein, biuret, Adamkiewicz’s and Millon’s reactions 
but not Liebermann’s. 
4) Tannin precipitates its solution, while double iodide of potassium 
and mercury produces a turbidity. 
5) The distillate of the substance with hydrochloric acid, 1.06 sp. gr., 
gives no furfurol reaction with either anilin acetate or phloroglucin solution. 
6) On boiling for some time with 5 % sulphuric acid, it yields not only 
the substance which gives biuret reaction but also such as reduce Fehling’s 
solution. The reducing power is still observed even after the hydrolysis 
product is treated with phosphotungstic acid in the usual manner. 
7) It possesses a weak diastatic power, evidently due to the enzyme 
admixed with it. Reactions for other enzymes were also tested, but with 
negative results 15 . 
Identification of Glucosamin. 
For the identification of glucosamin in the cleavage products of protein 
bodies, four methods have been proposed, namely: benzoate method of F r. 
1) As the preparation had diastatic power, our interest was naturally aroused to the study 
of enzymes in yam tubers. Water extract was made in the manner already described and in 
it the following enzymes were identified : 
A) Diastase ; B) Oxidase ; C) Catalase. 
The detailed report is expected to be published in the near future by one of us. 
