( 321 ) 



that the concentration of the lluids, necessary to produce narcosis, 

 runs parallel to the distribution coefficients between water and oil. 

 We shall give a few examples. 



III. Effect of Chloroform on the Germination of wheatgrains. 



Already in our former pa})er we pointed out that the facts, discovered 

 with respect to phagocytes, correspond entirely with various phenomena, 

 observed in other cells. Hence we remarked tiiat just as phagocytes 

 show a greater phagocytarian capacity when a slight quantity of a 

 narcotic is added, (and ai-e paralyzed by a greater quantity), the excite- 

 mentstage in narcosis will prol)ably have to be explained by an 

 increased activity of the ganglion-cells. 



Eggs of star-fishes and sea-urchins can be brought to a 

 parthenogenetic development, according to J. Loeb, by an addition 

 of slight quantities of substances w^hich dissolve fat. This too agrees 

 Avith our views of what has been observed in the case of the 

 phagocytes. For according to our interpretation this development 

 may be explained by a softening of the egg-membrane, of which a 

 more rapid cell-division must be the consequence. If moreover we 

 bear in mind that ciliated epitiielium is stimulated by traces of 

 alcohol or ether, tlien we are inclined to think that the influence of 

 substances dissolving fat, on the mobility of cells is a widespread 

 phenomenon in nature. For this reason we have investigated 

 whether this influence might also be traced perhaps in plant-cells. 



For this purpose we chose the germination of seeds, a i)rocess in 

 which a considerable division and growth of cells manifests itself. 

 The seeds we chose were grains of wheat, and for the substance 

 dissolving fat we took chloroform. 



A number of wheat grains (seed corn) were selected and soaked 

 for some time in watery solutions containing slight quantities of 

 chloroform. Another number of wdieat-grains were left for some time 

 in distilled water. Then the swollen seeds were allowed to germinate. 

 For this purpose they were placed on a horizontal j)iece of gauze, 

 which is used for dust-filters, and which was stretched over a square 

 aluminium frame. This frame was placed in a square glass basin 



