POISONS. 227 
solution of morphia. Half a minute after being 
introduced commencement of torpidity ensued, 
shown by contractions becoming fewer and feebler 
In one minute the feeble impulses emanating from 
the prepotent lithocyst failed to spread far through 
the contractile tissue, appearing to encounter a 
growing resistance. Eventually this resistance 
became go great that only a very small portion of 
contractile tissue in the immediate neighbourhood 
of the lithocyst contracted, and this in a very slow 
and feeble way. Two minutes after immersion 
even these partial contractions entirely ceased, and 
soon afterwards all parts of the animal were com- 
pletely dead to stimulation. Recovery in normal 
water slower than that after chloroform, but still 
soon quite complete. Repeated experiment on this 
individual four times without injury.” 
10. Alcohol—The solution must be strong to 
cause complete intoxication. The first effect on 
Sarsia is to cause a great increase in the rapidity 
of the swimming motions—so much so, indeed, that 
the bell has no time to expand properly between 
the occurrence of the successive systoles, which, in 
consequence, are rendered feeble. These motions 
gradually die out, leaving the animal quite motion- 
less. The nectocalyx is now responsive to stimuli 
applied at the tentacles, and sometimes two or 
three contractions will follow such a stimulus, as if 
the spontaneity of the animal were slightly aroused 
by the irritation. Soon, however, only one contrac- 
tion is given in response to every tentacular irrita- 
tion, and by-and-by this also ceases—the Medusa 
