THE EFFECT OF CYANIDES ON PROTOPLASM. 323 



causes a decrease in the volume of the eggs when placed in 50 

 per cent, sea-water, the rate of decrease varying inversely as the 

 concentration of KCN. 



(3) Both HCN and KCN act as anaesthetics, the HCN being 

 more powerful than the KCN. 



(4) Anaesthetized eggs can be fertilized while in that condition 

 but it appears that cell division is delayed until the anaesthetic 

 has diffused out of the egg or until the narcotic condition has been 

 reversed. 



(5) The formula kt L n -=p- (where V eq is volume at 



V eq ' V t 



equilibrium ; V is volume at the first instant (in sea-water) ; 

 and V t is the volume at time /) correctly represents the rate of 

 reaction. 



(6) It is suggested that it is the HCN molecules present in a 

 solution of KCN which causes anaesthesia by that salt, and that 

 its lessened effectiveness is due to the antagonistic (?) action of 

 the KOH which is present, at the same time, in an aqueous solu- 

 tion of KCN. 



Appreciation is expressed to Dr. J. H. Bodine for suggesting 

 the problem and for the helpful advice given the writer. 



LITERATURE CITED. 



Beerman, H. 



'24 Jour. Exp. Zool., Vol. 41, p. 33. 

 Bodine, J. H. 



'24 Jour. Gen. Physiol., Vol. 7, p. 19. 

 Heilbrunn, L. V. 



'25 Biol. Bull., Vol. 49, p. 461. 

 Jacobs, M. H. 



'20 Amer. Jour. Physiol., Vol. 53, p. 457- 

 Lillie, R. S. 



'13 Amer. Jour. Physiol., Vol. 31, p. 255. 



'16 Amer. Jour. Physiol., Vol. 40, p. 249. 



'18 Amer. Jour. Physiol., Vol. 45, p. 46. 

 Lucke, B. and McCutcheon, M. 



'260 Jour. Gen. Physiol., Vol. 9, p. 709- 

 Mathews, A. P. 



'14 Int. Zeit. f. physik-chem. biol., Bd. I, S. 433. 

 McCutcheon, M. and Lucke, B. 



'266 Amer. Journ. Physiol., Vol. 9, p. 697. 



