166 DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA. (Cne. IX. 
on one leaf were closely inflected, and six on the other slightly so; but 
all the glands were blackened, or very dark coloured, with the pro- 
toplasm in all the cells of all the tentacles much aggregated and dark 
coloured. The leaves were not quite killed, for on being placed ina 
little solution of carbonate of ammonia (2 grs. to 1 oz.) a few more 
tentacles became inflected, the remainder not being acted on during 
the next 24 hrs. 
Half-minims of a stronger solution (two drops to 4 oz. of water) were 
placed on the discs of six leaves, and in 30 m. all those tentacles 
became inflected; the glands of which had actually touched the solu- 
tion, as shown by their blackness; but hardly any motor influence was 
transmitted to the outer tentacles. After 22 hrs. most of the glands on 
the discs appeared dead; but this could not have been the case, as, 
when bits of meat were placed on three of them, some few of the outer 
tentacles were inflected in 24 hrs. Hence nicotine has a great tendency 
to blacken the glandsard to induce aggregation of the protoplasm, but, 
except when pure, has very moderate power of inducing inflection, and 
still less power of causing a motor influence to be transmitted from the 
discal glands to the outer tentacles. It is moderately poisonous. 
Atropine.—A grain was added to 487 grains of water, but was not 
all dissolved ; another grain was added to 437 grains of a mixture of 
one part of alcohol to seven parts of water; and a third solution was 
made by adding one part of valerianate of atropine to 437 of water. 
Half-minims of these three solutions were placed, in each case, on the 
discs of six leaves; but no effect whatever was produced, excepting 
that the glands on the discs to which the valerianate was given were 
slightly discoloured. The six leaves on which drops of the solution of 
atiopine in diluted alcohol had been left for 21 hrs. were given bits of 
meat, and all became in 24 hrs. fairly well inflected; so that atropine 
does not excite movement, and is not poisonous. I also tried in the 
same manner the alkaloid sold as daturine, which is believed not to 
difier from atropine, and it produced no effect. Three of the leaves on 
which drops of this latter solution had been left for 24 hrs. were like- 
wise given bits of meat, and they had in the course of 24 hrs. a good. 
many of their submarginal tentacles inflected. 
Veratrine, Colchicine, Theine-—Solutions were made of these three 
alkaloids by adding one part to 437 of water. Half-minims were 
placed, in each case, on the discs of at least six leaves, but no inflection 
was caused, except perhaps a very slight amount by the theine. Half- 
minims of a strong infusion of tea likewise produced, as formerly 
stated, no effect. I also tried similar drops of an infusion of one part 
of the extract of colchicum, sold by druggists, to 218 of water; and the 
leaves were observed for 48 hrs., without any effect being produced. 
The seven leaves on which drops of veratrine had been left for 26 hrs. 
were given bits of meat, and after 21 hrs. were well inflected. These 
three alkaloids are therefore quite innocuous. 
Curare.—One part of this famous poison was added to 218 of water, 
and three leaves were immersed in ninety minims of the filtered solu- 
