As a 1 other nations, who may not be similarly the toxic effect of an anesthetic.1 of these studies the observation has bee SPECIAL ARTICLES ON THE STABILITY OF THE ACID-BASE IN a recent number of this journal2 a note was published which had as its object a discussion of the influence of the age of an organism in maintaining its acid-base equilibrium. In this paper the observation was made that when animals of different ages were intoxicated by uranium nitrate, the factor of the age of the organism in the reaction was expressed by an inability of the senile animal to maintain with the same degree of perfection a normal acid-base equilibrium as was the case with the younger animal. More recently studies have been undertaken which have had as their object an investigation of the stability of the acid-base equilibrium of the blood in naturally nephropathic animals following the use of an anesthetic, and of the ability of an alkali to protect the naturally nephropathic kidney against 1 Aided by a grant from the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research. 2 MacNider, William deB., "Concerning the Influence of the Age of an organism in maintaining its Acid-base Equilibrium," SCIENCE, N. S., Vol. XLIV., 643, 1917. 3 MacNider, William deB., "I. A Study of the Acid-base Equilibrium of the Blood in Naturally Nephropathic Animals and of the Functional Capacity of the Kidney in Such Animals following an Anesthetic," Jour. Exp. Med., Vol. XXVIII., 1918. 501, The following study is concerned wit investigation of the stability of the acid equilibrium of the blood in naturally ne pathic animals as contrasted with normal trol animals when this equilibrium is by the intravenous injection of an acid alkali. Twenty-six dogs have been used in series of experiments. Ten of the an were normal and were employed as co for the sixteen naturally nephropathic mals. The animals were anesthetized ether. A glass canula was inserted int femoral vein and connected with a b Through this connection the acid or the was introduced into the animal's circula At the end of half an hour of etherizatio reserve alkali of the blood (R.p.H.) was mined by the method of Marriott.5 Bloo this purpose was obtained by puncturing saphenous or external jugular veins. making the initial determination of the mal's alkali reserve, both the normal co animals and the naturally nephropathic mals received intravenously either 5 c.c kilogram of a n/2 solution of hydroch acid or 25 c.c. per kilogram of a thre cent. solution of sodium bicarbonate. I minations of the alkali reserve of the were made in both groups of anima fifteen minute intervals during the first 4 MacNider, William deB., "I. A Study Efficiency of an Alkali to Protect the Nat Nephropathic Kidney against the Toxic Eff an Anesthetic," Jour. Exp. Med., Vol. XX 517, 1918. 5 Marriott, W. McK., "A Method for th termination of the Alkali Reserve of the Plasma,'' Arch. Int. Med., Vol. XVII., 840, 142 of the experiment and at half hour intervals during the final hour. The normal alkali reserve of the blood for the control group of animals has varied from 8.0 to 8.1. When such animals are given intravenously 5 c.c. per kilogram of a n/2 solution of hydrochloric acid there occurs within fifteen minutes a reduction in the alkali reserve of the blood which, in the normal animal of Experiment 4 that is representative of the group, was 7.85. In these animals there occurs at once an attempt to restore the normal acid-base equilibrium. Within the second fifteen-minute period of Experiment 4 the alkali reserve had increased from 7.85 to 7.95, and at the end of one hour the reading was 8.0. At the termination of the experiment the alkali reserve was 8.05, as opposed to the normal of 8.1. The remaining five normal animals received intravenously 25 c.c. per kilogram of a three per cent. solution of sodium bicarbonate. The response of these animals to the introduction of such a solution has been of the same type. The animal of Experiment 7 had a normal alkali reserve of the blood of 8.1. At the end of fifteen minutes following the introduction of the solution of sodium bicarbonate the alkali reserve was increased to 8.3. Within half an hour, as a result of the attempt on the part of the animal to reestablish a normal acid-base equilibrium, the reading was 8.2. At the end of the first hour the normal reading of 8.1 had been established and remained at this point during the second hour of the experiment. 1 Sixteen naturally nephropathic dogs are included in the second group of animals. Eight of these animals received intravenously 5 c.c. per kilogram of a n/2 solution of hydrochloric acid, while the remaining animals of the group received by the same method of administration 25 c.c. per kilogram of a three per cent. solution of sodium bicarbonate. Following a halfhour period of anesthesia by ether, the reserve alkali of the blood of these naturally nephropathic animals was found to vary between 8.0 to 8.1; a variation similar to that obtained for the normal control animals. a ra When a naturally nephropathic an given 5 c.c. per kilogram of a n/2 solu hydrochloric acid there occurs marked reduction in the alkali reserv blood which is in excess of the reduc tained in normal animals. In Experin which is representative of this grou occurred within fifteen minutes after troduction of the acid solution a depl the blood in its alkali reserve from the of 8.1 to 7.7. At the termination of ond fifteen minute period the reading r unchanged, 7.7. No demonstrable atte been made on the part of the naturally pathic animal to reestablish a norm base equilibrium. At the end of the f of the experiment the alkali reserve creased to 7.85, and remained at this p ing the final and second hour of the ment. The response of naturally nephropa mals to a solution of hydrochloric ac quantitatively from the response of animals. The reduction in the alkal of the blood is uniformly greater in ally nephropathic animal than it is in animal. Furthermore, the normal a able to reestablish its acid-base equili a point within the range of the norm the naturally nephropathic animal to effect such a return in the alkali the blood. The eight naturally nephropathic sol that received intravenously a sodium bicarbonate have shown the of reaction. The response of the a Experiment 21 is typical for this gr animal had a normal alkali reserv blood of 8.0. Within the first fiftee following the injection of the bicar lution the reserve alkali of the bloc 8.4. At the end of the second fiftee of the experiment the reading rem changed. At the end of the first ho serve alkali had been reduced to 8 the end of the second hour of the to 8.15, a determination in excess o mal reading of 8.0. When the response of these nephropathic animals to a solution of sodium bicarbonate is compared with the response of the normal animals, the following differences are observed. The introduction of the solution into a naturally nephropathic animal effects a more marked disturbance of the acidbase equilibrium of the blood, as is shown by a greater increase in the alkali reserve, than occurs in a normal animal. When such a change is induced in the blood of a normal animal there occurs a rapid depletion of the reserve alkali of the blood with a return of the blood to its normal acid-base equilibrium. When, however, a similar type of change has been induced in the blood of a naturally nephropathic animal, the animal appears unable to effect with the same rapidity and degree of completeness a reduction in the reserve alkali of the blood with the reestablishment of a normal acid-base equilibrium. The reduction in the alkali reserve in such an animal takes place more gradually, and at the end of a two-hour period of observation the alkali reserve remains at a higher point than was obtained for the normal reading. The experiments indicate that the reserve alkali of the blood in certain naturally nephropathic animals may be maintained by the animal within the range of normality. Such an observation is, however, no index of the ability of such an animal to maintain a normal acidbase equilibrium of the blood when the stability of the mechanism which regulates this equilibrium is subjected to the strain of handling either an acid or an alkali. When a normal animal receives intravenously an acid or an alkaline solution there occurs a disturbance in the acid-base equilibrium of the blood which is temporary, and which is rapidly followed by a reestablishment of the animal's normal acid-base equilibrium. When a naturally nephropathic animal is subjected to a similar disturbance in the acid-base equilibrium of its blood, the lack of stability on the part of the mechanism which maintains this equilibrium is shown by the facts that the acid or alkaline solution induces a greater degree of variation from the animal's normal equilibrium and that the animal is unable to reestablish within the time limit allowed the normal animal a return of the blood to a normal acid-base equilibrium. WM. DEB. MACNIDER UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY DIVISION OF PHYSICAL AND INORGANIC CHEMISTRY Wm. D. Harkins, chairman H. N. Holmes, secretary Preparation of zinc nitride: W. J. BENTLY and PAUL L. STERN. After the trial of several methods of making zinc nitride the following was found to be the best. Ammonia was passed over zinc dust for 30 minutes at 650° C. and the product cooled to at least 200° C. before exposure to the air. The ammonia was treated to remove oxygen and moisture. The zinc dust was washed with a solution of ammonia and ammonium chloride, alcohol and ether. It was then dried in vacuo. The chief difficulty was in excluding oxygen from the system. The highest yield was 36.8 per cent. nitride. Alloys of zinc-zinc nitride were prepared up to 3.9 per cent. nitride. It is thought a thorough investigation will disclose many valuable properties. Hydrolysis of the calcium phosphates: H. V. TARTER. On the hydrolysis of the silicates of sodium: ROBERT HERMAN BOGUE.1 A series of seven silicates of sodium have been examined in which the ratio of Na2O to SiO, in the molecule varied from 1:1 to 1: 4. Solutions of each were made at five different molecular concentrations, and examined electrometrically for their hydroxyl-ion concentrations. From these values the degrees of hydrolytic dissociation have been calculated. Agreement with earlier investigations was not attained, and hypotheses are presented to account for this disparity. The values obtained for hydrolytic dissociation are much lower than have been previously reported. As the percentage of Na2O in the molecule increases, the resulting product becomes less stable, and in dilute solutions ever increasingly hydrolyzed. A revision of the atomic weight of antimony: H. H. WILLARD and R. K. MCALPINE. Final report on the analysis of the tribromide. On the separation of crystalloids from one another by dialysis: LOUIS KAHLENBERG. Using pyridine 1 Industrial Fellow Mellon Institute of Indus trial Research, Pittsburgh, Penna. 144 as the solvent and vulcanized rubber membranes as Investigations on gelatines. Decay of viscosity on hydrolysis as a function of hydrogen ion concentration: S. E. SHEPPARD, FELIX A. ELLIOTT, HARRY D. GIDEONSE and (Miss) C. M. GODDEN. Investigations on gelatines. Protein errors of indictors: (Miss) A. J. BENEDICT and FELIX A. ELLIOTT. Gelatine as an emulsifying agent: HARRY N. HOLMES and W. C. CHILDS. Using gelatine as a typical hydrated colloid excellent emulsions of kerosene-in-water were made and their stability observed. It was found that the leading factor as regards stability was a definite and most favorable viscosity, no matter how obtained. This viscosity could be secured by using the required concentration of gelatine, or with more gelatine made less viscous by such peptizing salts as sodium iodide, or with less gelatine made more viscous by coagulating salts of the sodium sulfate type. Lowering of surface tension was a factor of somewhat less There was no evidence within the importance. limits of accuracy employed of the formation of adsorption films at the oil-water interface. There must have been such adsorption but it was evidently too limited in amount to play a leading part in emulsification. Adsorption of precipitates III: The a of precipitating ions by hydrous aluminu HARRY B. WEISER and EDMUND B. MIDDI The thermal decomposition of gaseous pentoxide. A mono-molecular reaction: ( TON DANIELS and ELMER JOHNSTON. Some new methods for determining Measuring low vapor pressures: AL Adsorption of gases by nickel catalys A new form of titration hydrogen Electrometric standardizing of per The isotopes of lithium as related to tution of the nuclei of atoms: W. D (Lantern.) The distribution of strong electroly benzene and water: ARTHUR E. HILL. The cryoscopy of boron trifluoride The dielectric constant of selenium Ion conductance of strong electroly The independent origin of acrinium: Nephelometric estimation of sulfur d Further studies on the freezing po The system water-benzene-silver perchlorate: ARTHUR E. HILL. The cryoscopy of boron trifluoride solutions: System with phosgene: A. F. O. GERMANN and VERNON JERSEY. (Lantern.) III. The cryoscopy of boron trifluoride solutions: Systems with sulfur dioxide and with nitric oxide: A. F. O. GERMANN and WENDELL PHILLIPS. (Lantern.) The cryoscopy of boron trifluoride solutions: System with hydrogen chloride: A. F. O. GERMANN and LELAND R. SMITH. (Lantern.) Conductance corrections and ionic mobilities from hydrated ion concentration measurements: FELIX A. ELLIOTT and S. F. ACREE. Contact potentials in hydrogen ion determinations: (Miss) A. D. DUSHAK, FELIX A. ELLIOTT and S. F. ACREE. Titration curves of some new buffer mixtures: (MISS) A. D. DUSHAK, FELIX A. ELLIOTT and S. F. ACREE. Investigations on gelatines. The Gold Number: S. E. SHEPPARD and FELIX A. ELLIOTT. The hydrogenation of benzene: H. S. TAYLOR and G. DOUGHERTY. Period of induction preceding changes of hydration in the hydrates of cupric sulfate: NATHANIEL H. FURMAN and ALAN W. C. MENZIES. Certain physical properties of three oils: ALAN W. C. MENZIES. The oxidation and luminescence of phosphorus I: The behavior of phosphorus in pure oxygen: HARRY B. WEISER and ALLEN GARRISON. The photochemical decomposition of gaseous nitrogen pentoxide: FARRINGTON DANIELS and ELMER JOHNSTON. (Lantern.) An improved method for the preparation of cuprous chloride and cuprous bromide: HENRY C. WATERMAN and CURTIS M. PARKHURST. (By title.) "Radiation as factor in chemical action": IRVING LANGMUIR. "The crystal structure of ice": D. M. DENNISON and IRVING LANGMUIR. DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY OF MEDICINAL PRODUCTS A new organic arsenical and related compounds: C. S. LEONARD1 and EDWARD KREMERS. Preliminary experiments on the chemistry of the heptane solution having revealed the readiness with which the 1 Newport Chemical Company Fellow. 1 halides of the elements of the fifth and four groups react with organic bases, the piperidine d rivatives of arsenic, antimony, silicon, and t were prepared. The reaction with arsenic t chloride may be indicated in the following ma ner: As Ols + C H10 NH→ As (CHN),As. 3HC1. A preliminary pharmacological investigation of t arsenic compound has been made by C. S. Leona and Julia Whelan in the laboratory of Profess Loewenhart. Compounds with other bases, a with other halides, have been prepared in the t tube, but have not yet been obtained in sufficie quantity and of desired purity for analysis a further study. The continuation of this line research is contemplated. In another direction, secondary hexyl derivative of piperidine has be prepared to test out a recent theory concerning length of the chain in local anaesthetics. preparation of the corresponding heptyl prod is under way. T Available chlorine for disinfectant bath: L. SAYRE. Experiments with different formulæ so tions of hypochlorite, acting upon resistant mic organisms, to ascertain what kind of solution p duces the maximum efficiency. Experime performed to meet a demand of the Board Health of Kansas. On the rate of evaporation of ethyl chloride fr oils: CHARLES BASKERVILLE and MYRON HIR Experiences with and new applications of ether in anesthesia: CHARLES BASKERVILLE. Some recent anesthetics: E. H. VOLWII Within the last year some local anesthetics h been produced to replace cocain for surface esthesia. They are the gamma di-n-butylami propyl alcohol ester and the gamma diallylam propyl alcohol ester, respectively, of p-aminoben acid. The latter is only two fifths as toxic cocain and more than twice as effective on the bit's cornea. Two new local anesthetics of anesthesin type are the n-butyl and the allyl es of p-aminobenzoic acid. The former gives a thesia of long duration, the latter very rapid esthesia. This work has been done by the resea staff of the Abbott Laboratories. The origin and biological significance of diastases: HUGH A. MCGUIGAN. A general st of diastatic activity has been undertaken in attempt to determine the origin and significanc the diastases. From this work and previous w |