^\i°n,\^io!^'}  Ostrich  and  other  Pepsins.  209 
dilute  hydrochloric  acid.  The  bottles  and  their  contents  were  then 
placed  in  a  water-bath  and  kept  at  a  temperature  of  98°  to  I02°F.  for 
four  hours,  when  digestion  was  regarded  as  complete. 
Kind  of  pepsin  employed.  Weight  of  pepsin  employed.  Results. 
Pig  pepsin,       .  .           \  grain        .  Digested 
Ostrich  pepsin,  .           .    2^  grains            .  Not  digested. 
«<       <<      ^  .          5      '*  " 
((       «  ^          ,  10^                      .  " 
Ingluvin,       .  .         2*     "         .  "  " 
(C  ^  ^  (<  i( 
H  jqI         (<  ^  <<  <t 
'  From  the  results  detailed  in  the  foregoing  table,  and  contained  in 
the  bottles  shown,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  albumen  is  scarcely  acted 
upon  at  all,  and  that  both  ostrich  pepsin  and  ingluvin  are  practically 
destitute  of  the  power  of  digestion. 
We  know  how  dominant  ideas  exercise  a  powerful  effect  on  the 
bodily  functions.  Dr.  Carpenter  says,  "  A  strong  direction  of  the 
inward  consciousness  to  any  part,  especially  if  attended  with  an  expec- 
tation of  something  being  about  to  happsn,  is  quite  sufficient  to  change 
the  physical  action  of  a  part."  If  the  South  American  Indians'  imagi- 
nation were  similarly  appealed  to,  it  might  be  they  would  derive  the 
extraordinary  benefit  attributed  to  ostrich  pepsin  after  partaking  of  7  or 
8  pounds  of  beef,  which,  on  the  authority  of  Dr.  Symes,  they  are  m  the 
habit  of  indulging  in. 
We  have  heard  of  late  a  great  deal  about  elevating  the  position  of 
pharmacists  and  chemists  and  druggists  generally.  As  a  step  in  this 
direction,  and  believing  as  I  do  that  the  examination  of  new  remedies 
is  a  duty  which  we  owe  to  medical'  men,  I  would  suggest  that  we  pay 
more  attention  to  the  testing  ot  substances  purporting  to  be  remedial 
agents  which  from  time  to  time  find  their  way  into  our  pharmacies  and 
are  prominently  brought  before  the  notice  of  practitioners  \  for  it  is  a 
matter  of  considerable  importance  that  the  accuracy  of  facts  be  well 
sustained  before  they  are  given  to  the  profession,  many  of  whom  have 
no  facilities  for  verifying  them.  If  any  of  you  wish  to  work  in  this 
direction,  lest  you  should  think,  after  excluding  the  above-named 
winged  animals,  that  pepsin  can  only  be  obtained  from  the  stomachs  of 
pigs,  calves  and  sheep,  I  have  much  pleasure  in  placing  before  you 
other  kinds.     I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Lloyd  Bullock  for  the  samples  of 
F  inding  that  twenty  times  as  much  ostrich  pepsin  and  ingluvin  had  so  little  effect, 
I  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  pursue  the  experiments  further. 
14 
