254 Vines.— Proteolytic Enzymes in Plants. 
Cucumis Melo. 
25 cc. of Melon juice and 20 cc. of chloroform-water were placed 
in each of two bottles: to No. 1, nothing was added; to No. 2, 
o*2 grm. of moist fibrin; a third bottle contained 45 cc. of pure 
juice and 0-2 grm. of fibrin. 
After 22 hours’ digestion, No. 1 gave a distinct tryptophane- 
reaction ; No. 2, a marked reaction, the fibrin being much broken 
up ; No. 3, a marked reaction, and the fibrin had altogether dis- 
appeared. 
Agartcus campestris. 
5 grms. of bruised Mushroom were placed in each of two bottles, 
with 20 cc. chloroform-water and 20 cc. distilled water: to No. 2, 
0-3 grm. moist fibrin was added. 
After 22 hours’ digestion, No. 1 gave a distinct tryptophane- reaction ; 
No. 2 a marked reaction ; most of the fibrin had been dissolved. 
I failed to obtain similar evidence of the digestion of 
fibrin in experiments with the fruits of the Vegetable Marrow, 
the Tomato and the Orange (rind and juice) ; the bulbs of 
the Onion, the Tulip, and the Hyacinth ; the leaves of 
Spinach and of Celery ; when the liquid was naturally or 
artificially acid. But when the liquid was rendered alkaline 
by Na 2 COs, digestion was effected by the bulbs of the Tulip 
and the Hyacinth. 
5 grms. of bruised Tulip bulb were placed in each of two bottles, 
both of which were filled up with 40 cc. of chloroform-water: to 
No. 1, nothing was added; to No. 2, 0*2 grm. of both moist fibrin 
and Na 2 C 0 3 . After 24 hours’ digestion, No. 1 gave a distinct 
tryptophane-reaction; No. 2 gave a marked reaction, as also good 
biuret-reaction, and the fibrin had disappeared. 
Similar experiments with Orange-peel, leaves of Spinach and 
Celery, and fruit of Banana, extending to 48 hours, gave no 
evidence of digestion. On the other hand, in that time digestion was 
effected by Hyacinth-bulb. 
Albumin and Casein. 
Only a few experiments were made with albumin. The 
form in which it was used was a 50 °/ o watery solution 
