A spectrographic analysis of animal tissues

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Abstract
It is recognised that, in addition to those chemical elements which are known to be necessary and essential constituents of protoplasm, others have a wide distribution in living matter. Such are iron, copper, zinc, aluminium and manganese. Besides these, a number of additional elements have been recorded as occurring spasmodically in animal and plant tissues. Hitherto the spectro-scope has rarely been used as a method of detecting uncommon elements in animal tissues; yet the spectroscope supplies a valuable tool for making a wide survey of tissue contents with a rapidity of which chemical methods do not allow. The present paper is the first report on such a survey, carried out on a quantitative basis. The field to be covered is, of course, vast. As a beginning, we have restricted ourselves mainly to annelids, in which whole animals were analysed, and molluscs, the separate organs of which were dissected out and dealt with. In addition, a limited amount of other material has been studied, including human organs, insects, and a few representatives of other groups. As the work progresses it is intended to investigate the principal divisions of the animal kingdom.

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