2392 Journal of Applied Microscopy 



GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY. 



RAYMOND PEARL, University of Michigan. 



Boolis and Papers for Review should be Sent to Raymond Pearl, Zoological Laboratory, 

 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. 



«,„„„„„„„„ H V T^ . ■ J /-' 1 As the result of a much more thorough 



Wallengren, H. Zur Kenntnis der Galvano- ° 



taxis. II. Eine Analyse der Galvanotaxis Study than has ever before been given 

 bei Spirostomum. Zeitschr. f. Allgem. ^^ ^^g electrotaxis of Spirostomum, the 

 Fhysiol. Z : 510-555,1903. ^ 



author comes to the conclusion that the 



well known phenomenon of transverse orientation to a constant electric current 

 which this infusorian exhibits is to be explained on the same general lines as 

 the kathodic electrotaxis of the other ciliates. The reason that Spirostomum 

 remains in the transverse position while a current of medium intensity passes, is, 

 according to Wallengren, that in this position the cilia on the kathode side of 

 the body develop approximately as much energy in the expansive phase of their 

 beat, as do the cilia on the anode side in their contractile phase. Hence there 

 is no further movement. r. p. 



Korentschewsky, W Vergleichende phar- ^.j^^ author's purpose in making this 

 mokologische Untersuchungen uber die . . 



Wirkung von Giften auf einzellige Organ- Study was tO get light, by comparative 



ismen. Arch. f. exper. Path. u. Pharmakol. j^gthods, on the pharmacological action 

 49: 7-31, 1902. ' \ ° 



of a number of important drugs. The 



experiments were performed on a number of common infusoria, including Para- 

 mecium, Vorticella, Spirostomum, Stylonichia, Euplotes and others. The method 

 used in experimentation was to mix together, by means of two fine tubes of the 

 same caliber, equal quantities of the solution to be tested and of the culture 

 water containing the organisms. The mixture was then put on a glass slide, in 

 a moist chamber, and the changes in the infusoria observed with a microscope. 

 All of the large number of drugs tested fell into two main groups on the basis 

 of their action on infusoria. The substances in the first of these groups (exam- 

 ples : salicylic acid, sodium salicylate, benzoic acid, bromine and iodine salts, 

 morphine, cocaine, etc.) paralyze all parts of the excretory apparatus of the 

 infusoria. The substances in the second group (examples : caffeine, theobro- 

 min sodium salicylate, strophantin, strychnine nitrate, veratrin chloride, physos- 

 tigmin salicylate, etc.) cause the products of metabolism to be immediately 

 separated out of the protoplasm. The drugs in the first of these groups are 

 substances which tend to produce phenomena of depression (particularly of the 

 nervous system) in higher organisms. The substances in the second group in 

 general act as excitants in higher organisms. A number of other very interest- 

 ing details of fact and conclusion are presented in the paper, but lack of space 

 forbids mention of them here. r. p. 



