66 
(2) The pure laccase preparations were found to act best in weakly alkaline solutions, 
as already observed by Bertrand and Bourquelot. 
(3) Laccase belongs to the group of proteins. Its ash constituent is very small and 
without influence on its oxidizing power. 
(4) Laccase is not destroyed by weak acids, nor by peptic or pancreatic digestion. 
ANTI-LACCASE . 
According to Gessard ( 191 ) it is possible to obtain a serum capable 
of retarding the action of laccase by the injection of preparations 
containing this oxidase subcutaneously into a rabbit. In order to 
obtain this anti-laccase serum Gessard adopted the following mode 
of procedure: A rabbit weighing about two kilograms received at 
intervals of five or six hours apart six injections, each of 1 gram of 
laccase powder in 10 c. c. of water. According to Bertrand ( 55 ) this 
represents about 0.15 gram of pure laccase. Two animals treated in 
this manner gave a serum of about the same potency. By means of 
guaiacum and guaiacol he found that the serum obtained from ani- 
mals thus treated completely retards the action of laccase when two 
parts of the serum by volume are added to one part by volume of a 2 
per cent solution of laccase. On the other hand normal serum and 
anti-tyrosinase serum were both found to be without effect on the 
action of laccase. Anti-laccase prepared by the use of the laccase from 
the juice of the lac tree was found to retard to a degree at least the 
color reactions produced by an extract of Russula delica on oxidase 
reagents. On the other hand Gessard ( 185> 186 ) observed that the anti- 
laccase obtained by the injection into rabbits of laccase from the lac 
tree is without retarding action on the laccase from the ink gland of 
the cuttle fish. He concludes therefore that the oxidases do not differ 
from other enzymes in their power to give rise to specific anti-bodies 
in the blood serum of animals, which have received a number of in- 
jections of the ferment. 
According to Gessard the results of these researches on anti-lac- . 
case and anti-tyrosinase are sufficient to prove the individuality of 
these two oxidases, and serve to show that the oxidases do not differ 
from other enzymes in regard to their power of giving rise in the se- 
rum of animals to substances which oppose their action. 
Czapek ( 129 > 13 °) has also obtained evidence of the production of anti- 
oxidases in plants which -hinder the oxidation of homogentisic acid, 
and which are produced in the growing ends of roots, special sense 
organs, and in fungi, as the result of irritation. 
In the light of Bach and Chodat’s views regarding the nature of the 
oxidases, the production of anti-bodies -in the serum of animals as the 
result of the repeated injection of oxidases is probably due to the 
action of the peroxidase moiety of the oxidase and not to the oxy- 
genase, since of these the former only seems to possess the properties t 
of a ferment. Gessard’s work is of such importance as to warrant 
