2U6 DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA. Chap. IX. 



sometimes did not do so. At one time I felt convinced that 

 morphia acted as a narcotic on Drosera, but after having found 

 in what a singular manner immersion in certain non-poisonous 

 salts and acids prevents the subsequent action of phosphate of 

 ammonia, whereas other solutions have no such power, my 

 first conviction seems very doubtful. 



Kxtracf, of Ilyosci/umus. — Several leaves were placed, each in 

 thirty minims of an infusion of 3 grs. of the extract sold by 

 druggists to 1 oz. of water. One of them, after being immersed 

 for 5 hrs. 15 m., was not inflected, and was then put into a 

 solution (1 gr. to 1 oz.) of carbonate of ammonia ; after 2 hrs. 

 40 m. it was found considerably inflected, and the glands 

 much blackened. Four of the leaves, after being immersed for 

 2 hrs. 14 m., were placed in 120 minims of a solution (1 gr. to 

 20 oz.) of phosphate of ammonia; they had already become 

 slightly inflected from the hyoscyamus, probably owing to the 

 presence of some albuminous matter, as formerly explained, 

 but the inflection immediately increased, and after 1 hr. was 

 strongly pronounced ; so that hyoscyamus does not act as a 

 narcotic or poison. 



Puiso7ifrom the Fang of a Living Adder. — Minute drops were 

 placed on the glands of many tentacles; these were quickly 

 inflected, just as if saliva had been given them. Next morning, 

 after 17 hrs. 30 m., all were beginning to re-expand, and they 

 ai^pcared uninjured. 



Foison from the Cobra. — Dr. Fayrer, well known from his 

 investigations on the poison of this deadly snake, was so kind 

 as to give me some in a dried state. It is an albuminous 

 substance, and is believed to replace the ptyaline of saliva.* A 

 minute drop (about Jq of a minim) of a solution of one part to 

 437 of water was applied to the secretion round four glands ; so 

 that each received only about g^^oo ^^ ^ grain ('0016 mg.). The 

 operation was repeated on four other glands; and in 15 m. 

 several of the eight tentacles became well inflected, and all of 

 them in 2 hrs. Next morning, after 24 hrs., they were still 

 inflected, and the glands of a very pale pink colour. After an 

 additional 24 hrs. they were nearly re- expanded, and completely 

 so on the succeeding day; but most of the glands remained 

 almost white. 



Half-minims of the same solution were placed on the discs of 

 three leaves, so that each received ^^ of a grain (*0675 mg.) ; in 



Dr. Fayrer, ' The Thanatophidia of India,' 1872, p. 150. 



