The vista opened up by these advances in physiology suggested investigations into the _amino-acids_, their association with the output of _uric acid_ in _gouty_ patients. No less than eighteen different amino-acids enter into the constitution of protein, but of these the most interesting from our point of view is _glycocoll_ or amino-acetic-acid. Now, glycocoll plays a great _rôle_ in the organism as a _detoxicating_ agent, rendering innocuous, _e.g._, benzoic and cholic acids by transmuting them into _hippuric_ and _glycocholic_ acids. In short, the body always has glycocoll at its disposal for coupling or combination purposes. Now it appears likely that glycocoll can be split off from all the amino-acids, a probability reinforced by the results of the researches of Embden and Reese and Lipstein, these observers having shown that amino-acids are present in all urines to about 1 per cent. of the total nitrogen output. Ignatowski, working with the urine of _gouty_ patients, found _amino-acids_ present in large amounts; not that it was peculiar to such subjects, for he found it in other diseases, but only traces were detectable in the urine of _healthy_ individuals. Again, Walker Hall, investigating urines drawn from the subjects of gout, the victims of other diseases, as well as healthy and diseased children, determined the presence of _glycocoll_ in about 70 per cent. of the cases. His researches, to his mind, confirmed the conclusion that “normally a certain amount of glycocoll escapes through or is eliminated by the renal filter.” Burger and Schweriner, from their researches on gouty subjects, have confirmed Walker Hall’s findings as to the excretion in excess of amino-acids, especially _glycocoll_. Lastly, Almagia has in gouty urines detected the presence of _glyoxylic_ acid. What its significance may be is uncertain, but it is at least interesting to note that, as MacLeod suggests, the synthetic formation within the body of glycocoll may very probably result from the interaction of ammonia and glyoxylic acid. THE GLYCOCOLL THEORY OF GOUT Excessive meat feeding in dogs, according to Kochmann, induces degenerative changes in the liver and kidneys. Similar tissue alterations were noted by Walker Hall in rabbits, after injection with _hypoxanthine_, while the same was observed by Kionka in mice. These findings suggest that, although _anatomical lesions_ are not apparent in the _livers_ of “gouty” men, it is at least probable that _functional_ damage results from the overeating of meat. Now, if glycocoll be added to a solution of (neutral) dialkali-urate, it expedites the appearance of the (acid) mono-alkali-urate, a reaction more noticeable with the sodium salt. _Urea_, in contrast to glycocoll, markedly inhibits the formation of the acid salt. But if _glycocoll_ be added to a solution of the (neutral) dialkali-urate and urea, the latter parts to some extent with its powers in this respect, and the mono-alkali-urate is deposited.