The chemical and physiological reactions of certain synthesised proteid-like substances. Preliminary communication

The experiments of Professor Grimaux, made more than ten years ago, have until recently attracted but little attention amongst English physiologists, although that investigator has synthesised a series of colloidal substances which, in their chemical characteristics, show striking similarities to proteids. Working alone, and in collaboration with Professor Halliburton, I have shown that three of the substances synthesised, viz., the "Colloids amidobenzoic A and B,” formed by the interaction of phosphorus pentachloride and meta-amido-benzoic acid at 125º C., according to the details described in Grimaux’s papers, and the “colloÏde aspartique” formed by the passage of a current of dry gaseous ammonia over solid aspartic anhydride heated to 125º C., not only give the leading chemical reactions of proteids, but when intravenously injected into dogs, cats, or pigmented rabbits, cause extensive intravascular coagulation of the blood, in a manner indistinguishable from the physiological action of nucleo-proteids.