Jiinc 20. 1030 CHEMISTRY AND INDUgrRY b l 9

mntcrinl is believed to be the glutiithione of corpsclcs ; expressed ns glntritliionc its value is 113 to ISS nig. pcr I00 C.C. corpuscles. Similar observations in n crise of leukacmin suggested that the coiicentration of the lion-sugar siibstnricc in leucocytes is tlie aiine ns thnt i n erythrocytes.

" The relation between the nitrogen niid the plios- pliorus contents of grnss," by H. J. Page nnd A. W. Clreenliil1.-Froin tlic nnnlysis of sninples of tlic hcrLngc froni pnstiircs trcntcd under the iiiteiisive system of griissliillti ninnngeinent, tnkcn througliout the SC:ISOI~, rind representirig tlic IicrLagc ns grazed by stock lifter n n interval of froni tlircc to five weeks since tlic previous grazing, i t is shown tl int tliere is n high positive corrclii- t ion Letween the nitrogen nnd tlic pliospliate contents of tlic dry miitter. A similar relrition is slio\vn by the rcsiilt published by Woodnim, by Cruikshank, autl by Arcliibtild ant1 Xclson. It is concludctl tliit pliospliorus is ii controlling fiictor 011 protein syntlicsis in the leiif tissue of gr:isscs, wliicli fiictor rnny operiitc citlicr in rclrition to tlie iibsorption of iuorg:iiiic iiitrogen Ly tlic roots rind its trrii~sport to the Icnrcs, or in relntioii to the ncturil syntlictic process in the leaves wliere1)y inorgrinic nitrogen is converted into protcin.

" A search for ' Vitriniin-B3 ' ill yeitst extracts," hy 11. Cliick iind A. 11. Copping WRS also r e d .

OBITUARY WILLIAM WLKE

Williani \\'ilke was born nt Dariiistndt, Gcrninny, in 1855. After serving rin npprenticcship with his father, n.ho \FRS a Innnufncturer of nincliine tools, he entered the 1)imiistadt Xngineering College, nnd graduntcd M.E. in 1877. Iniiiiedintely after his grndiin- tioii lie obtnincd an iippointnient with the Imperial Rnilwnys of Ccriimiy, n i d four years Inter wcnC to the United Statcs, ivlierc lie bccnmc assistant cliicf ciiginccr t o the JIidvnlc Steel Co. From 1S8G t o 1893, Jlr. Wilkc wm chief ciigiiiccr of thc Gruy's Ferry Chemical Works, I'hiladclphia, and devoted liis attention princi- pally to constructioii work and improving clieinicnl processes. During tllis period hc supcriutcndcd the reconstrimtion of tlic entire works. Subsequently he bccarnc n consnltnnt, and built up an estensivc pr:tcticc. IIe was responsible for the erection of iiiany of the largest sulplniric acid and fcrtiliscr plnnts in tho \\rcsterii Hciiiisphcrc. 1Ic also introduced various clicinicnl processes, including a iicw inetliod for tlic niannfncturc of mliitc lend. Nr. Wilke, wlio died on April 4 Iiist, had been a nicin1)cr of the Society of Chemical Industry since 1906.

CORRESPONDENCE BIOCENETIC RELATIONSHIPS IN MF.NTHONE SERIES Sii~,-In the course of rccciit work bcriring u1)o1i

the possible biogenetic rclntioiiships misting bctwcen gcrnniol, piperitol, piperitone, phellrindrcnc, ctc. (Cmmswy AND INI~USTBY, 1929, 48, 786 ; " Chcniici~l Rcvic\vt+" 1930, 7, 41), \vc have been rrblc to 1)repiire in quiintity 11 foriii of dl-i)ilieritylruiiiac (I) (ucctyl deriv., n1.p. 108", bcneoyl deriv., m.p. 130", nnisoyl dcriv., m.p. 161"). The quriternnry iiiiiinoniuni iodide (II), into which tliis bnse is rcndily convcrtctl, furnishes

tll-piperitol (III), together with a terpenc frnction, when treated with moist silver oxide. d prcliniinnry study of the terpenc frnction indicates that while nppnrently conhiniug some a-terpinene (nitrosite, m.p. 155") i t consists Iiirgely of dl-a-plicllnndrenc (IV) (nitrosite, n1.p: 113"). Noreover, the qustcriiary nmmoniurn iod~de (11) is trnnsforrncd coniplctely a t ribout 88" into n siniilrir terpcnc inistiire and trimethyl- iimine liydriodidc :-

ChIo CMC A y\

I I I I '\I v

(1) (11)

H,C CH H,C OH

H2C CIi*SI-I, H& CIi*h'AIc,'I

CH - c I - m , CB -CHl\lo,

ChIo C M C

/\ I I II

HC CH H,C CH

H A CH*OII H,C CH

A\

\/ V (III) (1")

CH - CHble, LX * CI3hk,

Tlie possibility, tlius suggested, of n direct pnssiigc from (I A]- to :i L2 : o-<lcrivtitivc (i .c., tlic production of a conjugnted system froni nil ctliylenic systeni, ns I I consequence of the doubly-esertcd nctiviiting effect of tlic C = C linking) lrns r i consitlernble biocliemicnl interest i n the series of subshnccs under notice. In continuing tlic investigiition we propose to trncc the chnngcs with opticully iictive forms of tlie substances.

The iibove form of dl-pipcritol (b.p. 9.i-9(i0/lS*ij mni., )1#'.50 1 -4740) is rentlily clinriieteriseil tlirougli the 3 : 5-diuitrob~1izoitte, n1.1). 91 -5". It is nlso proilucccl, togetlier wit11 n tcrpcne frnctioii, in tlic intertiction of tlI-pipcrit~lnmine with nitrous ricid. A study of the stcreochcri~icnl rclntionsliips of these iiitcrcsting zF-unsaturatcd :ilcoliols iind iiiiiiiies to the corresponding menthols mid n~entlrylrimincs is being undcrtnkai in these lnborntorics.

We iire, Sir, etc., JOlIS Real) R2tLivr A. STOREY

Un ivcrsi ty, St. Andrcw.

June 12, 1930

PERSONAL AND OTHER ITEMS Sir Jrimcs Trviuc, F.lt.S., hns been rippointed chairmnn

of the conimittcc which is to report on the training of ciindiclntcs nnd probntioncrs for appointment ris forest oflicers in tlic Government scrvicc.

Blr. W. Ilnalilton Fyfe, heacluiaster of Christ's IIospitnl, hris nccepted the post of priiiciptil of the University of Kiagstou, Outario.

His inany friends will bo interested to Icarn that Prof. Chris. E, ,Rlullin, professor of cheinistry at Olcniso~l Collcgu, S.C., is now in England.

Tlic lntc Mr. Keith Bnrlow, chaimlnn of \\'iggiiis ~ c r l p ~ QG co. (igi9), m., left fss,ias.