( 315 ) 



the mobility of' these cells and consequently tlieii* phagocytarian capa- 

 city. This was indeed found to be invariably the case. 



In order to test this view by means of further experiments we 

 have continued our investigations in three directions. 



In the first place the effect of otlier substances, soluble in fat, viz. 

 of Alcohol, Butyric acid. Propionic acid and also of Peruvian Balsam 

 on the phagocytarian power was investigated. 



Secondly we examined to what exient the amount of these sub- 

 stances, necessary to bring about a just perce})tible increase of Phago- 

 cytosis, is governed by and pi'oportionate with the degree of solu- 

 bility of these substances in fat. 



And finally we asked ourselves whether other cells namely plant- 

 cells were affected, as regards their mobility, by the substances soluble 

 in fat. 



I. Effect of alcohol, butyric acid, propionic acid and Peruvian 



BALSAM ON PHAGOCYTOSIS. 



The experimental method adopted here was identical with the one 

 we had applied before. We investigated namely the percentage of leuco- 

 cytes which had taken up carbon from a suspension, to which slight 

 quantities of the substance to be in\estigated had been added in one 

 case, and not in another. 



First preliminary experiments had to be carried out to establish 

 how much of the substance would have to be added. 



Table I may serve as an answer as regards alcohol, 



a. Effect of Alcohol on Phagocytosis. 



TABLE I. 



The leucocyte-suspension tias been in contact for one hour, at the ordinary room- 

 temperature, with the fluids to be investigated. Thereupon the leucocytes have been 

 enabled to take up carbon-particles for 25 minutes. 



pj,,;j„ ! Percentage of leucocytes having 



^'"'"^- I taken up carbon. 



NaCl 0.9% j l^'^X 100 = 48.40/0 



1 CC. Alcohol to 10 CCm. -^y \r\(\ ^ n 0/ 



NaCl-solution 322 ^ '" 



1 CC. Alcohol to 100 ccm. 168 vy,nn_Qnno/ 



NaCl-solution 543 XIOU_dU.y/„ 



1) This quotient denotes that 834 leucocytes were examined and that of these 

 404 had taken up carbon. 



22 

 Proceedings Royal Acad. Amsterdam. Vol. XIV. 



