794 



the salts on Chlamydomonas might suggest a comparison with 

 siispensoids rather than with emulsoids. 



In this respect also there is a correspondence between the phenomena 

 studied in Chlamydomonas and the processes which occur in the 

 colloidal globulins. These also were flocculated by small quantities 

 of salts in Hardy's experiments and the valency of the ions played 

 an important part. 



The globulins ma,y be reckoned among the emulsoids on account 

 of their behaviour towards base and acid, but the effect of salts 

 leads to the conclusion, that they are emulsoids possessing certain 

 suspensoid properties. 



We might conclude from our experiments, that the power of 

 Chlamydomonas varinhilis to react to gravity, (to light and to chemo- 

 tactica) is influenced hy electrolytes in such a manner, that there is 

 much analogy to the action of electrolytes in tlie flocculation and 

 solution of colloids. For this reason the hypothesis is possible, that 

 in Chlamydomonas we are concerned with an action of the electro- 

 lytes on the colloids of the protoplasm. These colloids would then 

 behave in such a way towards acid, base and salt, that a comparison 

 with the behaviour of globulins (as observed by Hardy) was the 

 most plausible. The plasma colloids would be emulsoid substances 

 with some suspensoid properties. 



Delft, November 1918. 



Laboratory of Technical Botany. 



