Excerpt from Science Progress, Vol. 2
The most important class of chemical substances with which the physiologist has to deal is that of the proteids. Their importance arises from the fact that they form the most essential of the constituents of a diet, and the most constant and abundant of the materials obtainable from protoplasm and living structures generally. In spite of this, however, we know practically nothing of their chemical constitution. The physical properties of the proteids, their identification by chemical tests, their subdivision into classes according to their solubilities, and the products of their decomposition have all been pretty thoroughly studied; there also exist various theories of the way in which their molecule is built up; but there is nothing certain at present. One of the greatest feats in chemical science will be the synthesis of albumin; but until this is done our knowledge of that overwhelmingly important substance must remain nebulous, and advance in physiological chemistry be hindered.
Not the least strange of the many puzzling facts in connection with the proteids is that many of them are poisonous. The poisonous proteids are not distinguishable by any well-marked chemical or physical properties from the non-poisonous or food proteids.
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