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PREVENTION OF SWELLNG OF LIVER MITOCHONDRIA 777 and by inorganic orthophosphate. Added Na+, K+, CFand S042ions in the range 1-10 mm are without effect, and citrate, oxalate and ethylenediaminetetraacetate protect mitochondria from swelling. 4. The effects of the nucleotides, Mg2+ and Mn2+ ions on the water content of mitochondria are also appreciable in a medium consisting of only 40 mm sucrose. In this medium AMP is more effective than adenosine diphosphate (ADP), which is better than ATP, apparently because of the inhibitory effect of the inorganic phosphate liberated during incubation. All three nucleotides are broken down to adenosine and inorganic phosphate, and this breakdown is more rapid in the presence of Mg2+, Mn2+ and Ca2+ ions either alone or in mixtures. 5. Adenosine 3'-phosphate, inosine 5'-phosphate, guanosine 5'-phosphate, uridine 5'-phosphate, flavin mononucleotide, adenosine and inosine were without effect on the water content ofmitochondria. 6. It is concluded that the agents which prevent swelling act on the structure of the mitochondria in ways which are not yet understood.

This paper records experimental work with animals on the toxicity and mode of action of dinitro-ortho-cresol (DNOC or DNC), a compound widely used in agriculture, and occasionally responsible for the death of men handling it in the field.Most of the data on the toxicity of the related compound dinitro-phenol (DNP) was published in the decade after the 1914-18 war. During that war DNP had been manufactured in large quantities, and many cases of poisoning had occurred among the munition workers who handled it. Both DNOC and DNP were widely used for a few years as " slimming agents ". A number of deaths, as well as many cases of cataract, followed the use of these drugs for this purpose.