( 162 ) 



by administering acid per os, and wo are fully justified in ascribing 

 the poisonous effects of the acid, to a diminution in the process 

 of oxydation. 



The results agree also with the observations recently published 

 by J. Loeb, on the influence of the traces of NaOH (OH-ions) on 

 the artificial fructification of the eggs of sea-urchins. The author 

 has clearly demonstrated that the primary cause of this effect might 

 be found in the acceleration of chemical reactions. '). 



TABLE XIII. 

 Increase of the alkaline reaction of the serum. 



It is seen from this table that, within a large margin, the addition of 

 OH-ions to the serum does not exercise a perceptible influence on 

 the phagocyterian power; it remains unaltered until the value is 

 increased by y. 200 normal: i.e., with 15% of the original alkaline 

 reaction. An additional supply of alkali causes a lessening of the 

 phagocytarian power. 



More pronounced still is the effect of acid and alkali on the phago- 

 cytes, when these substances, instead of being added to serum, are 



') J. Loeb, Pflüger's Archiev 118, 1907, H. 3/4, S. 181. 



