XVlll Scientific Proceedings 
the excretion of hippuric acid varies with the condition of the liver, 
the ‘kidney remaining constant. 
If it is true that, in the mammal, the liver participates to a 
major degree in hippuric acid pairing, we should be able to recog- 
nize the involvement of the liver by this means. Several normal 
children were studied, sodium benzoate being given by mouth, 
and the hippuric acid figures compared with those obtained upon 
days when no benzoate is given. Invariably there is an increase 
in hippuric acid excretion. In one case where there was extensive 
liver involvement (child of 11 years, mitral regurgitation, heart 
decompensated, liver greatly enlarged), no increase in hippuric 
acid excretion following administration of sodium benzoate was 
observed. 
CONCLUSIONS. 
1. In dogs, there is a marked participation of the liver in the 
pairing of hippuric acid. 
2. This may be determined by administering subcutaneous 
injections of hydrazine and following these injections by admin- 
istration of sodium benzoate by mouth, the hydrazine inducing 
fatty degeneration of the liver, while the kidney remains intact. 
There is a lessened output of hippuric acid under these conditions. 
3. What appears, from a single crucial instance, to be a similar 
condition in man was observed. 
A MODIFICATION OF THE LEWIS-BENEDICT METHOD FOR THE 
DETERMINATION OF SUGAR IN BLOOD. 
By STANLEY R. BENEDICT. 
(From the Department of Chemistry, Cornell Medical College, New York City.) 
A study of the reaction between picric acid and glucose in alka- 
line solution was undertaken to find conditions under which this 
reaction will proceed to completion in dilute solution, thus avoid- 
ing the necessity of concentrating by boiling, as in the Lewis- 
Benedict procedure. The results have shown that in no possible 
concentration of sodium hydroxide is the depth of color directly 
proportional to the concentration of sugar. This alkali therefore 
cannot be employed. With increase of concentration of carbon- 
ate during the reaction there is increase in depth of. color de- 
