On the Poisonous Action of Di-cyanogen. 
BY 
O. Loew, and M. Tsukamoto. 
Modern investigations lead to the conclusion, that the proto¬ 
plasm of living cells is a labil organisation of labil material. 1 ) 
According to the theory advanced by one of us (L.) the great 
lability of the albuminous matter composing the living protoplasm 
is caused by the simultaneous presence of aldehyde- and amido- 
groups. If this is correct then every substance that can react in 
a high dilution upon aldehyde- or amido-groups must be poison¬ 
ous for every living cell and organism, from the lowest fungus to 
the highest animal. Many toxicological facts and recent ex¬ 
periments are in accordance with this conclusion. The highly 
poisonous action of hydrocyanic acid may be best explained by 
its easy reaction with aldehyde-groups, while the poisonous 
action of di-cyanogen can be best explained by its action on 
labil amido-groups. The former reaction is represented by the 
following equation : 
(*) —C“h+HCN = (*) —C-CN , 
*''■ ri 
and the cyanogen reaction by the following example : 
CN 
2 (C 5 H j NH ! )+ ^ = c ^Jzc-c-H C f 5 - 
However, the poisonous action of these two substances has been 
studied so far only in regard to vertebrate animals, and in regard 
to the lowest forms of life only the action of hydrocyanic acid on 
yeast cells has been the object of closer observation. It seemed, 
therefore, of some interest to compare representatives of all 
kinds of living organisms as regards their behaviour to the two 
above stated substances. 
We prepared solutions of di-cyanogen and of hydrocyanic 
acid of a certain strength. The di-cyanogen was prepared in 
i) Compare O. Loew, Natiirl. System der Giftwirkungen, Munich, 1893. 
