n8 
Animal  Digestive  Ferments. 
/Am.  Jour.  Pharm . 
1      March,  1902. 
acteristic  action  of  the  ferment  from  an  amount  so  small  as  to  quite 
elude  and  defy  analysis.  Just  as  in  the  anti-toxins,  the  characteristic 
effect  is  obtained  from  an  amount  so  small  as  to  even  tax  the  imagi- 
nation. 
It  may  be  said,  also,  that  we  do  not  know  why  sodium  chloride 
exerts  an  unfavorable  influence  upon  the  proteolytic  enzyme  in  vitroy 
but  it  positively  does,  even  when  present  to  the  extent  of  0  2  per 
cent.  Likewise,  we  do  not  know  why  some  of  the  extractive  mat- 
ters present  in  the  pancreas  secretions  and  in  saliva  (and  in  malt 
also)  exert  a  profound  influence  upon  the  starch-covering  ferment. 
We  however  know  that  inorganic  salts  in  association  with  the  fer- 
ments in  normal  juices  exert  a  powerful  action,  and  upon  the  sepa- 
rated enzymes  themselves,  and  are  in  some  way  intimately  related 
to  their  life  and  activity.  We  know  how  to  extract  the  enzymes 
and  preserve  them,  and  how  to  apply  them  in  many  important 
directions;  know  their  compatibilities  and  incompatibilities;  and  we 
are  also  able  to  distinguish  differences  between  simple  solutions  of 
the  ferments  and  the  secretions  of  the  glands  themselves. 
The  limitations  of  our  knowledge,  whilst  presenting  most  inviting- 
subjects  of  inquiry,  are  mainly  in  their  biological  relations.  The 
whole  field  of  investigations  in  relation  to  the  therapeutic  utilization 
of  the  animal  gland  secretions  is  the  object  of  active  laboratory  and 
clinical  study,  and  we  may  naturally  anticipate  yet  further  additions 
to  the  brilliant  achievements  already  made. 
BIBLIOGRAPHY   CHRONOLOGICALLY  ARRANGED. 
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Stevens:  Inaug.  Thesis  University  of  Edinburgh,  1777  (De  ali- 
mentorum  concoctione). 
Hunter,  J.:  Philos.  Transactions,  1772. 
Spallanzani :  Experiences  sur  la  Digestion  de  l'Homme,  etc.,  par- 
Jean  Senebier.    Geneve,  1783. 
Leuchs :  Kastner's  Arch.  f.  d.  ges.  Naturlehre,  1831. 
Beaumont :  Experiments  and  Observations  on  the  Gastric  Juice\ 
1834. 
Eberle  :  Physiologie  der  Verdauung,  1834  (reprint  1838). 
Miiller,  J.  :  Physiologie,  2d  ed.,  1835. 
Muller  and  Schwann  :  Muller's  Arch.  f.  Anat.,  1836. 
Schwann:  Muller's  Arch.  f.  Anat.,  1836. 
