574 EFFECT OF COCAINE ON GROWTH OF LUPINTJS 



respect are metallic salts. The effects of these on sprouting and 

 growth have been studied by some authors such as Brenchley (1), 

 Bokorny (2), and a few others. The deleterious effects of some gases 

 have also been touched upon by some authors, such as Crocker and 

 Knight (3), Crocker, Knight, and Rose (4), and others, and the 

 effects of ether on flowers have been investigated by other plant 

 physiologists (5). The influence of that most important class of 

 drugs or poisons known as the alkaloids on the growth of plants, has, 

 however, with the possible exception of nicotine (6) practically been 

 left untouched. 



In connection with the comparative study of the effects of cocaine 

 and its decomposition products on various animal organs and tissues 

 carried on by one of the authors, it was thought of interest to inquire 

 into the effects of the same compounds on living organisms belonging 

 to the plant kingdom and an investigation on the subject was accord- 

 ingly undertaken with the kind cooperation of Professor Livingston 

 of the Laboratory of Plant Physiology of this University. The results 

 obtained were so interesting in themselves, and even more so as com- 

 pared with the data obtained from animal work, that they are deemed 

 worthy of pubHcation. 



Methods. 



In the present investigation the effect on the growth of cocaine 

 and its decomposition products were studied, in terms of elongation, 

 of the roots of the seedlings of Lupinus alhus. This lupine can be 

 very easily germinated and the single straight root of the seedling 

 can be readily measured. The procedure employed in the present 

 experiments was as follows. The dry seeds were soaked over 

 night in tap water at ordinary temperature. On the following day 

 the swollen seeds were planted with the hilum downward in 

 moist, finely ground sphagnum moss. The planted seeds are placed 

 in a thermostat and left at a constant temperature of 20°. On the 

 third day after planting, the roots of the seedUngs are of convenient 

 length for measurement and are ready for study. After recording 

 the exact length of a root it is placed in an upright test-tube of hard 

 glass containing nutrient solution, the seed resting on the upper edge 

 of the tube. The solution employed was the so called Shive solution 



