12 Vines . — Tryptophane in Proteolysis . 
The malt had been made from barley which had germinated 
for ii days, and had been dried at about 90° C. An infusion 
of the malt with hot water gave a distinct tryptophane- 
reaction. 
Experiments with Vida Fab a, L. 
These have not yet been carried far. Some that I instituted 
on the principle of auto-digestion not having proved satis- 
factory, further observations were made on liquids to which 
Witte-peptone had been added. The seeds used had been 
soaked in water for some days in a warm room, and showed 
signs of germination. As the following record shows, the 
enzyme seems to act best in neutral or alkaline solutions, and 
to be inhibited by HC1. 
145 grms. of germinated seeds ground to fine paste and extracted 
with 400 cc. distilled water ; the turbid liquid, strained through muslin, 
is slightly acid, and gives a trace of tryptophane-reaction : 1 00 cc. 
placed in each of 4 bottles, with 1 cc. of 4 °/ 0 HCN : — 
1. Without any addition. 3. HC1 added to 0-2 °/ 0 
2. Neutralized. 4. Made alkaline to 1 °/ Q Na 2 CO s , 
placed in incubator at 4 p.m. : next day at noon — 
1. Gives faint tryptophane-reaction. 3. No reaction. 
2. No reaction, is slightly acid. 4. No reaction, still alkaline. 
As none gave a distinct tryptophane-reaction, I added 1 grm. of 
Witte-peptone to each ; at 3 p.m. the results were — 
1. Faint tryptophane-reaction. 3. Faint reaction. 
2. Marked „ 4. Distinct „ 
24 hours later, the results were — 
1. Distinct reaction. 3. Faint reaction. 
2. Strong „ (slightly acid). 4. Marked do. (still alkaline). 
It will be observed that my results do not exactly agree 
with any of those to which I have alluded. The diversity of 
opinion which exists as to the conditions of proteolysis in 
germinating seeds is, no doubt, due to the great differences in 
chemical composition presented by the seeds of the various 
families of plants. Moreover the experimental difficulties are 
considerable : it is in many cases almost impossible to obtain 
clear solutions to test ; then there is the re-development of 
