146 



RALPH S. LILLIE. 



that the alcohol alters the colloidal substratum in such a manner 

 as to increase the diffusion-rates of the interacting substances; at 

 least some change in the structural or catalytic conditions deter- 

 mining reaction-velocities is indicated. The terms facilitation 

 and sensitization merely describe or classify the effect without 

 throwing any further light upon its physico-chemical nature. 



TABLE VI. 



July i. Eggs from one starfish were placed in (A) cold normal sea-water, and 

 (B and C) cold sea-water containing respectively 3 and 4 vols. per cent, ethyl 

 alcohol. The eggs were kept in flasks immersed in an ice- water bath; the temper- 

 ature of each flask was about 3 (varying between 2 and 4). At intervals of 2, 

 4, 6, and 8 hours eggs were transferred to sea-water at room temperature. 



The majority of control eggs (i. e., unfertilized and sperm-feitilized eggs at 

 room temperature) showed normal behavior. Results were as follows: 



The results of a similar experiment on July 2, with 4 and 5 

 vols. per cent, alcohol, were as follows: 



Ex- 

 posures. 



A. Normal Sea- water. 



B. 



C. 5 V. $ C 2 H 6 OH. 



I. I h. 



2. 3^ 



3- 41 



4- 7 



h. 

 h. 

 h. 



20-25% of mature eggs All mature eggs form 

 form membranes; one membranes; 10 to 

 blastula found. 15% blastulae formed. 



Like Ai; a few blastulae. \Ca. 25-35% blastulae. 



Like A 2. 

 Blastulae more numer- 

 ous; ca. i%. 



Ca. 30-40% blastulae. 

 Ca. 10-15% blastulae. 



Membranes in all ma- 

 ture eggs; Ca. 10- 

 15% blastulse. 



Ca. 35-45% blastulae. 



Ca. 70-80% blastulae. 



Ca. 30-40% blastulae. 



The essential question is why low temperatures should so alter 

 the conditions within the cell as to render possible the activation- 

 reaction. That cold may cause definite structural changes in 

 many cells, leading to cytolysis or other characteristic effects, 

 is well known. Such effects are often found at temperatures well 

 above the freezing-point, e. g., the fatal action of sub-normal 



