1] MODIFICATION OF VITAL ACTIONS 



CH 3 x /S0 2 CH 3 



/ C \ is not poisonous ; 



CH 3 / 



/S0 2 C 2 H 5 



sulphonal : / C \ is poisonous ; 



CH 3 / \S0 2 C 2 H 5 



CH 3 v /S0 2 C 2 H 5 



trional : /C\ is poisonous; and 



C 2 H/ \S(XC 2 H 5 



C 2 H 5 x 



tetronal: /C\ is more poisonous. 



C 2 H/ 



The same holds for the acetals ; thus, 



Hx /O.CH 3 Hx /O.C 2 H S 



/ C \ is half as active as / C \ 



H/ \O.CH 3 CH 3 / \O.C 2 H 5 



We find the same thing in the ethyl group, - 



CH 3 C - OH is less active than CH 3 C - OH. 

 CH 3 / CH 3 / 



trimethalcarbinol. dimethalethylcarbinol. 



And also in the alcohols, 



methyl alcohol, CH 3 OH, weak action ; 

 ethyl alcohol, C 2 H 5 OH, weak action ; 

 isopropyl alcohol, C 3 H 7 OH, stupefying. 



A few words now concerning the morphological changes ob- 

 served in protoplasm subjected to the action of poisons belonging 

 to this group. Here belong especially the various anaesthetics. 



Chloroform and ether seem to affect all protoplasm anaes- 

 thetically, that of the higher plants as well as that of the 

 higher animals. (BERNARD, C., '78, and ELFING, F., '86.) 

 KUHNE ('64, p. 100) first studied the effect of chloroform vapor 

 upon Tradescantia hairs, but DEMOOK ('94, p. 193) has since 

 described the action of this reagent in much more detail. 

 | chloroform water at first (2 to 5 minutes) produces a very 

 intense excitement in the movements of the protoplasm, a 

 strong vacuolization occurs, and then the cytoplasm gradually 



