THE ACTION OF ETHER OX PROTOPLASM. 473 



July 23 (Temp. 23). Eggs were fertilized at 10.45 A.M. At n.oo A.M. 

 some of the fertilized eggs were put into 2}4 per cent, ether in a glass-stoppered 

 weighing bottle, others of the same lot were centrifuged for 60 seconds. The 

 centrifugal treatment for 60 seconds resulted in a faint indication of a hyaline zone. 

 At 11.05 A.M. a centrifugal test of the normal fertilized eggs for 80 seconds showed 

 a hyaline zone extending about one fourth of the egg axis. Test samples of etherized 

 eggs were centrifuged for 5 seconds at 11.12 A.M., for 10 seconds at 11.18 A.M., 

 and for 15 seconds at 11.23 A.M. The 5 second test showed only faint indications 

 of a hyaline zone, the 10 second test showed the zone not very plainly, the 15 

 second test showed it extending along one third of the axis of the egg. Later a 

 10 second test, at 11.35 A.M., showed the hyaline zone extending for J4 to 1/3 of 

 the egg axis. This test is not as trustworthy as the earlier tests, for the protoplasm 

 appeared to be in chunks, and it is possible that the granules were fusing together. 

 At 11.40 P.M., a 15 second test showed the hyaline zone %, %< or absent. Co- 

 agulation is doubtless beginning. 



This experiment showed that 2j^ per cent, ether may lower 

 the protoplasmic viscosity to one sixth or even one eighth of its 

 original value in fertilized eggs. 



As with the unfertilized eggs the protoplasm of the etherized 

 fertilized eggs becomes more and more fluid with increase in 

 ether concentration or length of exposure until suddenly coagu- 

 lation occurs. Here too the onset of coagulation results in 

 death. If the eggs are removed from the ether in the early 

 stages of liquefaction they resume their development, but if 

 they are kept in ether until coagulation has occurred or is about 

 to occur, the eggs are permanently injured and never resume 

 development. 



The result of these experiments is a direct confirmation of 

 my older results. These findings do not agree with the statement 

 of Chambers previously referred to. Let us consider this 

 statement closely. He says: 



"Both A. Heilbronn and Weber agree with the coagulation 

 theory of narcosis. On the other hand, L. Heilbrunn (1920) 

 claims that the reversible effect of 2.5 per cent, ether on the 

 sea-urchin egg occurs only when the viscosity is diminished. 

 With higher concentrations of ether (3 per cent. +) the increased 

 viscosity, according to him, is irreversible. He therefore con- 

 cludes that narcosis implies a diminution in viscosity of the 

 protoplasm. My results with the micro-dissection method and 

 by observing Brownian movement do not agree with this. In 

 2 per cent, ether, Brownian movement was slowed down but 



