102 
Physiology and its Chemistry [January, 
logical chemistry,* by C. H. Ralfe. In this book, leucin 
(termed here a glycolamid) — 
C 2 H 2 0,H0) 
H N, 
H 
is alluded to as a neutral body which does not form salts. 
Now it not only forms salts by combination with acids and 
bases, but it is moreover capable of expelling hydrochloric 
acid from cupric chloride : moreover, the formula the author 
quotes is itself explanatory of these fadts. More startling, 
however, is the statement that the vegetable organism is 
“ synthetical,” while the animal “ analytically reduces.” 
Were this wholly true we should be at a loss to understand 
how it is that hematocrystalline exists in the blood, or the 
principles to which we have above alluded go to build up 
brain-matter. In speaking of a possible mixture of glucose 
and chlorides, the author diredts the removal of the latter 
by argentic nitrate, and then says- — “ On concentration, the 
glucose will crystallise out.” This account would have been 
more corredt had he for the word “ glucose ” substituted 
“ nitrates,” and still more corredt if — instead of using nitrate 
of silver — he had diredted the use of oxide of silver. Why, 
too, he should class cholesterin (C 26 H 44 0, a monatomic 
alcohol) as a non-saponifiable fatty principle, or speak of the 
hxed oils as highly inflammable (meaning, of course, their 
produdts of decomposition by heat), we are at a loss to 
imagine. Again, he is in error when he says that most of 
the albumens contain sulphur and phosphorus. As for the 
method he gives for separation of oleic, palmitic, and stearic 
acids from a mixture of the same, we cannot do better than 
state it in a few words. He diredts to saponify with potash 
in the presence of alcohol, and to decompose the mixture 
with sulphuric acid ; the removal of the potassic sulphate 
thus formed, by filtration ; and the concentration of the 
alcoholic filtrate. The palmitic and stearic acids are thus 
stated to crystallise out, while from the mother-liquor is ob- 
tained the oleic acid by distillation, extradtion of the residue 
by ether, and evaporation of the extract. This, it will be 
seen, amounts to no separation at all, for the palmitic and 
stearic acids are still in mixture and unpurified, while the 
oleic acid obtained as described will contain also some 
palmitic and stearic acids. 
* Outlines of Physiological Chemistry, by C. H. Ralfe, M.A., M.B. 
London : H. K. Lewis. 1S73. 
