(975) 
In swelling, as well as in miscible substances, the quotient, 
therefore, always lies between 10 and 25 104; however 
different the chemical nature of the substance may be! If the two 
phenomena are identical in nature, this need not cause astonishment. 
But how could this agreement in order of magnitude in such greatly 
different substances be explained if the two phenomena were different 
in principle? 
Summarizing, we see that the laws of imbibition are relatively 
simple (much simpler than one would have expected after vaN 
BeMMELEN’s experiments) if only care is taken to avoid substances 
with secondary complications. And it appears that in the four cases 
where the quantitative laws of the imbibition power of amorphous 
solid substances were compared with the laws of the miscibility 
of liquids, a striking analogy exists. The correctness of the fact that 
this analogy exists is independent of the correctness of the theory, 
which has led to the research. But once found it is a fact with which 
every theory of swelling will have to reckon. 
But whereas it forms a strong confirmation of the theory which 
proclaims that swelling is in principle the same as mixing, it will 
be difficult to propose any other theory which can explain uncon- 
strainedly the existence of this analogy. 
In a subsequent paper I hope to publish a number of experiments 
showing that the theory can also account satisfactorily for the imbi- 
bition power of swelling crystals. 
Physiology. — “Huperimental researches on the analogy between 
swelling (imbibition) and iniving. 2°¢ Communication : Swelling 
(imbibing) crystals and mived crystals’. By J. R. Karz. 
(Communicated by Prof. PRrKELHARING). 
(Communicated in the Meeting of December 24, 1910). 
Erperiments with swelling (imbibing) crystals. 
The question as to how the water of imbibition exists in swelling 
crystals '), has for a long time excited great interest, but a clear insight 
is not yet obtained. In order that some more light may be thrown 
on this question it appeared supremely necessary to carry out new 
') Literature reviews on imbibing crystals are found in: 
O. Leamann, Molekularphysik II, p. 550—553 (1888). 
L. Marrvarp, Revue Générale des Sciences 9, p. 608-—614 (1898). 
Fr. N, Scnutz, Die Krystallisation von Eiweisstoffen, Jena, Gustav Fiscnen. 
64* 
