( 324 ) 



motion is facilitated, finds an additional support in the following 

 3 arguments : 



I. Also other substances dissolving fat, taken at random, and which 

 were formerly not experimented upon, viz. Alcohol, Butj-ric acid, 

 Propionic acid and also Peruvian Balsam, were found to accelerate 

 phagocytosis. 



Alcohol was found to increase phagocytosis in a concentration of 

 1 to 500—20000; Fropionic acid in a concentratioji of 1 to 10.000000. 



On comparing these results with the effect of mineral acids such 

 as HCl and H, SO^ we are struck by the noxious effect whicli mere 

 traces of Propionic acid and Butyric acid have on phagocytosis. For 

 whilst the l)ad effect of Propionic acid commences ah-eady at 1 to 

 1000,000, that of H, SO, mauifests itself only at 1 to 7000. 



That Peruvian balsam should increase phagocytosis was to i)e 

 expected, as it contains cinnamic acid, likewise an organic acid. 



The remarkablj' favourable, hitherto unexplained, effect of Peruvian 

 balsam on infected wounds, may be explained, partly at least, by 

 an increased mobility of the phagocytes and of other cells playing 

 a part in the healing-process. 



II. If the iceakest concentrations of the fat dissolving substances 

 are sought in which the phagocytes show a plainly perceptible acceleration 

 of phagocytosis, then these are found to run parallel to the degree 

 oj solubility of these substances in fat; in other words to the 

 distribution coefficients of these substances between water and oil. 



Moreover the remarkable fact is observed that the same concen- 

 tration of substances which dissolve fat, necessary to cause paralysis 

 of phagocytosis, also effects narcosis of tadpoles and of mammals. 

 As we know the concentiations necessai-y to bring about iiarcosis 

 are, according to the investigations of H. Meyer and Overton governed 

 by these distribution-coefficients. 



III. Not only animal cells (phagocytes, ganglion-cells, eggs of 

 lower marine animals, ciliated epithelium) show an increased mobility 

 under the effect of slight quantities of substances dissolving fal, but 

 also in plant-cells the same fact is observed. Under the effect of 

 Chloroform 1 to 100000 an important acceleration in the germination 

 of wheat-grains was obser\'ed. Chloroform 1 to 1000 on the contrary, 

 impairs the generation, evidently because a second factor makes itself 

 felt, viz. paralysis of the protoplasm. 



Groningen, September 1911. 



