Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 07.djvu/437

LEFT mOTECTOB 361 PROTEST headquarters were at Washington, D. C. The league co-operated with the De- partment of Justice, Red Cross, Y. W. e. A., Army Intelligence, Navy In- telligence, Alien Property Custodian, Shipping Board, Food Administration, Jewish Welfare Board, and various other organizatioBS. PB-OTECTOB, in English history, one who had the care of the kingdom during the minority of the king; a regent; speci- fically applied to Oliver Cromwell, who took the title of Lord Protector in 1653. In ecclesiology, a cardinal belonging to one of the more important Catholic na- tions, who, in Rome, watches over ques- tions affecting his country. There are also cardinal protectors of religious or- ders, colleges, etc. PROTEINS, a class of complex sub- stances occurring in plants and animals, and differing from the other main con- stituents (carbohydrates and fats) in that they contain nitrogen. They are also known under the name of proteids, albumens and albumenoids, but there is a tendency to call the nitrogenous con- stituents, as a class, "proteins," restrict- ing the terms "albumen" and "albumen- oids" to sub-groups. Of all the constit- uents of food the proteins are the most important. Without them life is im- Sossible, for it is the proteins which uild the tissues and repair the waste of daily life. On the other hand, with pro- tein, water and a little mineral matter, life can be maintained indefinitely. Flesh foods of all kinds, including fish, are high in protein, as are also eggs, Huts, cheese and peas and beans. It is estimated that an adult requires, on the average, 120 grams of protein daily. ^ In the body, proteins are decomposed into peptones and then to amino acids, in which form they are carried by the blood to the tissues, any excess being con- verted into urea by the liver, this, in turn, being excreted by the kidneys. The chemical nature of proteins has been investigated by the famous German themist, Emil Fischer, and his pupils. More than fifty different varieties have been identified. A classification of these varieties was made by a joint committee of the Chemical and Physiological Socie- ties of London, and was submitted to American scientific bodies for criticism. As amended and completed by the latter, the classification divided the proteins into the following groups. A. Simple Proteins, in which group are included the protamines, histones, albumins, globulins, prolamines, glute- lins and sclero-proteins (or albumen- oids). B. Conjugated Proteins, consisting of those proteins having, in combination, other groups, such as carbohydrates, phosphorus, etc., and including the nucleoproteins, glycoproteins, hemoglo- bins, phosphoproteins and lecithoprotcins. C. Derived Proteins, consisting of compounds derived from proteins by hydrolysis. D. Proteans or Metaproieims, includ- ing coagulated proteins, proteoses, pep- tones, etc. Proteins as a elass are distinguished by the large size of their molecules, which renders possible their separation from simpler substances by dialysis, the smaller molecules passing through the dialyzer, while the larger protein mole- cules are retained. In other respects the proteins of the various groups differ greatly in their chemical and physical characteristics. Some (e. g. horn) are Insoluble in all solvents; others, such as egg albumin, are soluble in water; still others, of which the globulins are an example, are insoluble in pure water, but soluble in salt solutions. Nearly all the soluble proteins can be precipitated from their solutions by the addition of salts, although, here again, there is great vari- ation in their behavior with different salts, and in the amount of the salt necessary to bring about the precipita- tion. It was formerly believed that no proteins could be obtained in crystal- line form, but of recent years, egg al- bumin and serum have both been crystal- lized, the method employed being to mix the protein with an equal bulk of con- centrated ammonium sulphate solution, filter, and acidify the filtrate with acetic or sulphuric acid. PROTEST, ordinarily, a solemn affir- mation or declaration of opinion (fre- quently in writing), generally in opposi- tion to some act or proposition; a solemn affirmation by which a person declares either that he entirely dissents from and disapproves of any act or proposition, or else only conditionally gives his assent or consent to an act or proposition, to which he might otherwise be considered to have assented unconditionally. In commerce, a formal declaration by the holder of a bill of exchange or promissory note, or by a notary public at his direction, that acceptance or payment of such bill or note has been refused, and that the holder intends to recover all expenses to which he may be put in consequence of such non-acceptance or non-payment. In marine insurance, a declaration made on oath by the captain of a vessel which has met with any disaster at sea, or has been compelled to run into a for- eign or intermediate port for safety.