Page:Defensive Ferments of the Animal Organism (3rd edition).djvu/222

 reacts not only with albumen and albuminous decomposites, but under certain conditions with other compounds as well, for instance, sugar. No trouble can be caused by these, if distilled water be used. The organ cannot give off any non-albuminous substances, which will affect the reaction of the fluid, if it is boiled in the manner prescribed. There could not possibly be any carbohydrates left, and we have the control test with serum to fall back on, in any case. Were this to contain much sugar, and, in consequence, to interfere with the reaction of the outer fluid, then it is conceivable that a coloration might take place, which could not be referred to albuminous decomposites. This result, however, would appear in the test with serum alone, and also in the one with serum substrate. Even the blood serum from cases of diabetes does not show any positive reaction ascribable to the presence of sugar. Non-compliance with the directions respecting water generally manifests itself in the fact, that a really positive reaction turns out negative; the reaction being, in fact, very sensitive towards acids and alkalies, i.e., towards H and OH ions.

For the reasons laid down we must always boil the organs in distilled water, and preserve them, as