322  Epinephnn  and  its  Compounds.  {Am•J'S?ri£3.arm• 
immediately  and  entirely  discharged  when  the  solution  is  added 
in  small  quantities  at  a  time  to  diluted  extracts  of  the  gland  like 
those  above  described,  but  which  are  kept  at  the  boiling  point.  In 
this  way  a  considerable  reduction  of  Fehling's  solution  without 
deposition  of  cuprous  oxide  may  be  obtained.  The  steam  that 
arises  from  a  boiling  mixture  of  this  kind  is  strongly  alkaline,  and 
this  fact  at  once  suggests  that  ammonia  or  some  other  basic  sub- 
stance prevents  the  deposition  of  cuprous  oxide.  We  may  here  be 
dealing  with  something  on  the  order  of  a  Pavy-Fehling  solution. 
The  prolonged  boiling  is  probably  necessary  in  order  to  expel 
ammonia  and  to  decompose  substances  that  prevent  the  deposition 
of  cuprous  hydrate  or  oxide. 
While  now  agreeing  with  Brunner  and  Aldrich  that  long  boiling 
will  develop  the  reducing  power  of  a  suprarenal  extract  for  Feh- 
ling's solution,  I  would  point  out  that  Aldrich  has  not  correctly  re- 
ported my  results.  He  withholds  the  statement  that  all  of  my  salts  of 
epinephrin  as  obtained  by  saponifying  iis  benzoyl  or  acetyl  derivatives 
are  as  capable  of  reducing  Fehling's  solution  as  adrenalin  itself,  and 
thereby  gives  the  reader  the  impression  that  no  form  of  epinephnn  thus 
far  isolated  is  able  to  effect  this  reduction. 
It  was  stated  clearly  in  my  paper2  that  epinephrin  in  its  native 
unaltered  state,  as  found  in  extracts  of  the  gland  and  in  v.  Fiirth's 
lead  precipitate,  failed  in  my  hands  to  reduce  Fehling's  solution,  but 
that  my  own  compounds  as  obtained  in  various  ways  all  agreed  with 
adrenalin  in  their  ability  to  reduce  this  reagent,  that  in  this  particular 
at  least  there  was  no  difference  between  them. 
The  suppression  of  these  facts  by  Aldrich  and  his  distortion  of 
the  point  at  issue  are  entirely  unwarranted. 
ON  THE  CHEMICAL  CONSTITUTION  OF  EPINEPHRIN    AND    ITS  HYDRATE. 
I  have  repeatedly  pointed  out  that  epinephrin  and  its  hydrate 
(adrenalin)  behave  in  exactly  the  same  manner  toward  the  fixed 
alkalies,  carbonates  of  the  alkalies,  and  the  hydroxides  of  the  alkaline 
1See  page  360  of  Aldrich's  paper,  where  he  says:  "  I  consider  the  failure  of 
the  various  workers  in  this  field  to  obtain  a  product  capable  of  reducing  Feh- 
ling's solution  due  to  a  changed  form  of  the  active  principle,  etc.,"  as  also 
conclusion  (6)  of  his  summary. 
2 Johns  Hopkins  Hospital  Bulletin,Vo\.  XII,  1901 ,  pages  337-338  ;  and  conclu 
sions  i,  2,  and  3  of  summary  on  page  343. 
