382 PINGUICULA VULGARIS. CHAP. XYL 



two or three days much reduced in size, rounded, rendered 

 more or less colourless and transparent, and so much softened 

 that they fell to pieces on the slightest touch. In only one 

 instance was a very minute particle completely dissolved, and 

 this occurred within 48 hrs. When only a small amount of 

 secretion was excited, this was generally absorbed in from 24 hrs. 

 to 48 hrs. ; the glands being left dry. But when the supply ot 

 secretion was copious, round either a single rather large bit jf 

 meat, or round several small bits, the glands did not become 

 dry until six or seven days had elapsed. The most rapid case 

 of absorption observed by me was when a small drop of an 

 infusion of raw meat was placed on a leaf, for the glands here 

 became almost dry in 3 hrs. 20 m. Glands excited by small 

 particles of meat, and which have quickly absorbed their own 

 secretion, begin to secrete again in the course of seven or eight 

 days from the time when the meat was given them. 



(3) Three minute cubes of tough cartilage from the leg-bone 

 of a sheep were laid on a leaf. After 10 hrs. 30 m. some acid 

 secretion was excited, but the cartilage appeared little or not at 

 all affected. After 24 hrs. the cubes were rounded and much 

 reduced in size ; after 32 hrs. they were softened to the centre, 

 and one was quite liquefied ; after 35 hrs. mere traces of solid 

 cartilage were left ; and after 48 hrs. a trace could still be seen 

 through a lens in only one of the three. After 82 hrs. not 

 only were all three cubes completely liquefied, but all the secre- 

 tion was absorbed and the glands left dry. 



(4) Small cubes of albumen were placed on a leaf; in 8 hrs. 

 feebly acid secretion extended to a distance of nearly ^ o f an 

 inch round them, and the angles of one cube were rounded. 

 After 24 hrs. the angles of all the cubes were rounded, and 

 they were rendered throughout very tender ; after 30 hrs. the 

 secretion began to decrease, and after 48 hrs. the glands were 

 left dry; but very minute bits of albumen were still left 

 undissolved. 



(5) Smaller cubes of albumen (about -^ or -^ of an inch, 

 508 or '423 mm.) were placed on four glands ; after 18 hrs. one 

 cube was completely dissolved, the others being much reduced 

 in size, softened, and transparent. After 24 hrs. two of thf 

 cubes were completely dissolved, and already the secretion on 

 these glands was almost wholly absorbed. After 42 hrs. the 

 two other cubes were completely dissolved. These four glands 

 began to secrete again after eight or nine days. 



(6) Two large cubes ot albumen (fully -^ of an inch, 1 27 mm.) 

 were placed, one near the midrib and the other near the margin 



