64 



REACTION OF CELLS 



representing the time in minutes, calculated figures 

 are given in brackets, which were obtained by 

 dividing the observed figures for the concentration i 

 by the concentration used, which is indicated in the 

 first column. 



If the calculated values agree with the observed 

 ones — as is really the case within the somewhat 

 large errors of experiment in these very difficult 

 investigations — this indicates that the ^/-rule is 

 applicable, i.e. that the reaction is monomolecular. 

 If we try to follow the progress of this reaction, we 

 find a rather irregular result, which is partly caused 

 by the circumstance that during the first period no 

 reaction is visible, which is due to the so-called time 

 of incubation. This phenomenon is very common 

 with life-processes, but is also observed in some 

 cases in general chemistry, for instance in the action 

 of light on a mixture of hydrogen and chlorine 

 (Bunsen and Roscoe). 



Now, when we know that the ^/-rule holds good 

 for the haemolysis by means of ammonia, we may 

 investigate the effect of temperature on this process 

 by determining the quantities of ammonia which are 

 necessary to produce the same degree of haemolysis 



