Vines . — Tryptophane in Proteolysis . 15 
It Is equally well known that the putrefaction of proteid Is 
due to the action of Bacteria : and although it has not yet 
been isolated, there Is evidence that the Immediate agent 
in the process Is a proteolytic enzyme. 
My observations on putrefaction were undertaken not so 
much in the expectation of discovering new facts of a funda- 
mental nature, as with the object of ascertaining whether or 
not tryptophane is formed under all the various conditions of 
experiment employed In the other Investigations, and of deter- 
mining the time of Its appearance in each case : with the 
object, that is, of instituting a series of control-observations 
by which the possibility or probability of Bacterial intervention 
in the other cases might be checked. 
The following series afford an idea of the general plan of 
these experiments and of their results. 
Acid liquids', (i) 02 °/ 0 HCL 
2 bottles, each containing 100 cc. of 0-2 °/ Q HC 1 : to the ( a ) one 
were added 2 grms. of fibrin, to the other (b) 1 grm. Witte-peptone. 
(a) gave no tryptophane-reaction after 10 days in the incubator, 
nor was there any sign of solution or putrescence : 
(b) no tryptophane-reaction until the 10th day; on the 5th day 
Moulds made their appearance ( Penicillium ), and the faint 
reaction on the 10th day is probably due rather to them than 
to Bacteria. No offensive odour. 
(2) 0-5 % citric acid. 
2 bottles each contained 50 cc. of this solution : to the one 
(a) was added 1 grm. of fibrin, to the other (b) 1 grm. of Witte- 
peptone. 
(a) no tryptophane-reaction after 7 days in the incubator, nor 
any sign of putresence. 
(b) no reaction until the 5th day, when Mould had abundantly 
developed ; the faint reaction then given was doubtless due to 
this cause. 
Alkaline liquid : 0-5 °/ Q Na 2 C 0 3 . 
2 bottles each contained 50 cc. of this solution : to the one (a) was 
added 1 grm. of fibrin, to the other (b) 1 grm. of Witte-peptone. 
(<2) distinct tryptophane-reaction on the 7th day; putrescent 
odour on the 3rd day. 
(b) distinct reaction and putrescent odour on the 2nd day. 
