202 DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA. CHAP. IX, 



had become aggregated into reticulated dingy-coloured masses, 

 having rounded and angular interspaces. As I have never 

 seen this effect produced by the carbonate of ammonia alone, 

 it must be attributed to the previous action of the quinine. 

 These reticulated masses were watched for some time, but did 

 not change their forms ; so that the protoplasm no doubt had 

 been killed by the combined action of the two salts, though 

 exposed to them for only a short time. 



Another leaf, after an immersion for 24 hrs. in the quinine 

 solution, became somewhat flaccid, and the protoplasm in all 

 the cells was aggregated. Many of the aggregated masses were 

 discoloured, and presented a granular appearance ; they were 

 spherical, or elongated, or still more commonly consisted of 

 little curved chains of small globules. None of these masses 

 exhibited the least movement, and no doubt were all dead. 



Half-minims of the solution were placed on the discs of six 

 leaves; after 23 hrs. one had all its tentacles, two had a few, 

 and the others none inflected ; so that the discal glands, when 

 irritated by this salt, do not transmit any strong motor impulse 

 to the outer tentacles. After 48 hrs. the glands on the discs of 

 all six leaves were evidently much injured or quite killed. It is 

 clear that this salt is highly poisonous.* 



Acetate of Quinine. Four leaves were immersed, each in thirty 

 minims of a solution of one part to 437 of water. The solution 

 was tested with litmus paper, and was not acid. After only 

 10 m. all four leaves were greatly, and after 6 hrs. immensely, 

 inflected. They were then left in water for 60 hrs., but never 

 re-expanded; the glands were white, and the leaves evidently 

 dead. This salt is far more eificient than the sulphate in 

 causing inflection, and, like that salt, is highly poisonous. 



Nitrate of Quinine. Four leaves were immersed, each in thirty 

 minims of a solution of one part to 437 of water. After 6 hrs. 

 there was hardly a trace of inflection ; after 22 hrs. three of the 

 leaves were moderately, and the fourth slightly inflected ; so 

 that this salt induces, though rather slowly, well-marked inflec- 

 tion. These leaves, on being left in water for 48 hrs., almost 



* Binz found several years ago white corpuscles, which become 



(as stated in ' The Journal of " rounded and granular." In the 



Anatomy and Phys.' November tentacles of Drosera the aggre- 



1872, p. 195) that quinia is an gated masses of protoplasm, which 



energetic poison to low vege- appeared killed by the quinine, 



table and animal organisms. Even likewise presented a granulai 



one part added to -1000 parts of appearance. A similar appear- 



blood arrests the movements of the ance is caused by very hot water 



