398 BOTANICAL GAZETTE 



DECEMBER 



In the majority of cases sodium chloride excellently prevented 

 alcohol from exercising its toxic influence on protoplasm. To 

 cite one convincing experiment, of twenty-five leaves placed in 

 10 per cent alcohol, and another twenty-five put in a solution of 

 10 per cent alcohol plus 0.128 M NaCl, and allowed to remain in 

 these solutions for one hour the average number of cells killed in 

 the alcohol was 86 per cent (maximum 98, minimum 75 per cent), 

 while the average number killed in alcohol plus sodium chloride was 

 1 per cent (maximum 10 per cent in only one leaf, the next highest 

 being 3 per cent, minimum o per cent). While these results were 

 obtained in the greater number of instances, sodium chloride did 

 not always so perfectly inhibit the toxic influence of alcohol. Occa- 

 sionally the number of cells killed in a solution of alcohol and sodium 

 chloride almost, although never quite, equaled the average number 

 killed by alcohol alone. These experiments were repeated with 

 calcium chloride instead of sodium chloride added to the alcohol. 

 In not a single case was the number of cells killed in 10 per cent 

 alcohol plus 0.128 M CaCl 2 much less than in alcohol alone, and 

 frequently more. 



The experimentation was carried further on the assumption that 

 since calcium and sodium antagonize each other, then calcium and 

 sodium both added to alcohol should antagonize each other and 

 leave the alcohol free to exercise its full toxic effect on protoplasm. 

 This assumption proved to be wrong. Leaves were placed in a solu- 

 tion of 10 per cent (2 M) C 2 H 6 0+o.i28 M NaCl+0.128 M CaCl 2 , 

 and other leaves in 10 per cent alcohol, for one-half hour. The aver- 

 age number of cells killed in 10 per cent alcohol was 64 per cent. In 

 the solution of alcohol plus the two salts, not a single cell suc- 

 cumbed, and this result was obtained in every instance of the many 

 times that the experiment was performed. Sodium alone with 

 alcohol varied considerably in its inhibitory powers. Sodium and 

 calcium together successfully exercised their combined antagonistic 

 effect on the toxicity of alcohol in every case. Potassium in the 

 form of KNO3 was substituted for sodium, and found to be as good 

 an antagonizer as the latter; sometimes, like sodium, inhibiting 

 the toxic effect of alcohol almost perfectly, and at other times show- 

 ing little or no inhibitory influence. 



