428 



MARIE A. HINRICHS. 



pensions were more susceptible to changes induced by radiation, 

 and the effect was graded by exposure. 



TABLE IX. 

 Loss OF OPALESCENCE OF SPERM SUSPENSIONS FOLLOWING RADIATION. 



* Figures represent '< relative opalescence of radiated sperm compared with 

 non-radiated sperm. 



There are characteristic differences between normally aggluti- 

 nated masses of sperm, and those induced by ultraviolet radiation. 

 The latter are irregular and permanent, and the individual sperm 

 inactive. The whole clump, in each case, appears to have been 

 formed by sperm which had become agglutinated to each other, 

 and had almost immediately lost their motility, remaining ap- 

 plied to each other by sticky surfaces. Such masses resemble the 

 ones described by various other investigators and are generally 

 known to be toxic and irreversible. (For discussion, see Lillie 

 and Just, '24, p. 489.) 



When masses of sperm, which had been normally agglutinated 

 by egg-water, are radiated, several things may happen, according 

 to the intensity and duration of the radiation, and the time of its 

 application with respect to the " age " of the agglutinated mass. 

 When freshly agglutinated sperm are but slightly radiated, the 

 clump breaks up almost immediately. If a slightly longer ex- 

 posure is given, the sperm appear to be paralyzed and the mass 

 becomes permanent, and more or less irregular in shape. 



When sperm are slightly radiated, and then treated with normal 

 egg-water, the onset of agglutination is delayed. Motility is 

 greatly decreased. Lillie, '12, and Loeb, '14, found the rapidity 



