Murlin, Clough, Gibbs, and Stokes 259
surprisingly high quotient of 1.12. To confirm the accuracy of the analysis
an outside air was run immediately and gave pérfectly theoretical figures
(see Table II). But the effect was short-lived-in fact almost explosive in
its intensity. Moreover, the dose was fatally toxic and the next quotients
obtained at 10.25 and 10.45 p.m. were those of partial asphyxia. The cat
died at 11.00 p.m.
This second experiment on Cat 2 would not be presented for its
evidence of combustion, if it did not also illustrate the toxic
effects of these simple extracts when given in large doses. Cat 1
also died (next day) as the result of a similar extract, and it was
in the hope of producing a less toxic solution of the antidiabetic
substance that we turned to the perfusion method soon after the
first experiment recorded above and, with the exception of a very
few experiments of which the last described was one, we continued
to prefer it as a method of preparation up to June 1, 1922.
It can scarcely be denied that these two experiments taken in
conjunction with those performed by Murlin and Kramer in 1916,
prove the effect of pancreatic extracts made in dilute hydrochloric
acid and neutralized (to litmus) before administration, to raise
the respiratory quotient. There was nothing in any of these
experiments to indicate that this rise could have been attributable
to any other cause than the genuine combustion of sugar. There
was no dyspnea or hyperpnea and in none of the experiments just
alluded to was any sodium carbonate or bicarbonate employed for
neutralizing the acid. Hence there could not have been any
"Auspumpung" or washing out of CO through overventilation of
the lungs nor any liberation of COs from bicarbonate upon contaot
with organic acid. Referring, for example, to the very high quo-
tient obtained in the second experiment above, if the extra
amount of CO were conceivably due to overventilation (and the
animal was under direct observation all the time) it should have
been followed in the next period by a compensatory storage of CO,
such as is invariably observed in infants after a hard fit of crying,
with consequent depression of the R. Q. below the diabetic level.
Nothing concerning the methodsa employed by Banting and
Best; beyond the fact conveyed in personal conversation by Mac-
It is fair to point out that the first experiment reported here was
actually performed 3 weeks previous to the first experiments on the respir-
etory quotient reported by the Toronto workers (Jan. 21, 1922).