Am.  Jour.  Ptiarrn.  > 
April,  1914.  j 
Current  Literature. 
185 
tain  as  much  general  information  as  the  work  of  T.  B.  Osborne  on 
"  The  Vegetable  Proteins, "  yet  it  contains,  probably,  the  essentials 
for  all  analytical  work. 
Among  the  other  valuable  articles  are  those  on  "  Enzymes  "  by 
E.  Frankland  Armstrong  and  on  "  Albuminoids  in  Scleroproteins  " 
by  Jerome  Alexander.  In  some  respects,  this  chapter  on  the  albu- 
minoids by  Mr.  Alexander  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  in  the  whole 
volume.  The  word  albuminoid  is  restricted  by  the  biological  chem- 
ists of  America  to  simple  proteins  which  exhibit  pronounced  insolu- 
bility in  all  neutral  solvents.  On  the  other  hand,  as  many  of  these 
protein  substances  form  the  chief  constituents  of  the  skeleton  of 
animals  as  well  as  of  the  skin  and  its  appendages,  the  physiological 
chemists  of  England  apply  the  term  scleroproteins  to  them.  Alex- 
ander classifies  these  substances  as  follows:  (1)  Collagens  or  jelly- 
forming  albuminoids;  (2)  Fibroids;  (3)  Chitinoids ;  and  (4) 
Keratins. 
CURRENT  LITERATURE. 
Formalized  Gelatin  Capsules. 
Enteric  Capsules  (Hard  and  Soft  Gelatin). — Used  for  medi- 
cines which  are  apt  to  produce  gastric  disturbance,  such  as  Potas- 
sium Iodide,  Oil  of  Santalwood,  Sodium  Salicylate,  Sodium  Car- 
bonate, Creosote,  Sodium  and  Zinc  Phenolsulphonate,  etc. 
Ballenger  and  Elder  suggest  the  immersion  of  the  filled  capsule 
for  one  minute  in  a  dilution  of  1  part  of  40  percent.  Formaldehyde 
Solution  in  from  40  to  60  parts  of  water.  The  capsules  should  be 
allowed  to  stand  for  two  weeks  after  immersion  before  use. 
Another  method  is  to  subject  the  filled  capsules  to  the  vapor  of 
Solution  of  Formaldehyde  as  follows : 
Place  the  capsules  in  an  open  box  in  a  vessel  which  can  be  tightly 
closed.  Take  15  Cc.  of  40  percent.  Formaldehyde  Solution  for  each 
cubic  foot  of  space  in  the  vessel  and  pour  it  on  cotton  or  gauze 
spread  out  upon  a  dish  in  the  vessel. 
Six  hours'  exposure  to  the  vapor  is  sufficient  for  capsules  which 
are  not  to  be  used  immediately.  Twelve  hours'  exposure  is  prefer- 
able for  capsules  required  for  immediate  use.  These  estimates  are 
for  soft  elastic  capsules  kept  at  room  temperatures  (from  70  0  to 
75°  F.). 
