Chap. IX. VAPOUR OF CHLOROFOKM. 217 



Nor did these four leaves, on being left for 24 hrs. in tlie diluted 

 alcohol, undergo any inflection. They were then removed ; one 

 being placed in an infusion of raw meat, and bits of meat on 

 the discs of the other three, with their stalks in water. Next 

 day one seemed a little injured, whilst two others showed merely 

 a trace of inflection. We must, however, bear in mind that 

 immersion for 24 hrs. in water prevents leaves from clasping 

 meat. Hence alcohol of the above strength is not poisonous, nor 

 does it stimulate the leaves like camphor does. 



The vapour of alcohol acts differently. A plant having three 

 good leaves was left for 25 m. under a receiver holding 19 oz. 

 with sixty minims of alcohol in a watch-glass. No movement 

 ensued, but some few of the glands were blackened and 

 shrivelled, whilst many became quite pale. These were scattered 

 over all the leaves in the most irregular manner, reminding me 

 of the manner in which the glands were afi'ected by the vapour 

 of carbonate of ammonia. Immediately on the removal of the 

 receiver particles of raw meat were placed on many of the glands, 

 those which retained their proper colour being chiefly selected. 

 But not a single tentacle was inflected during the next 4 hrs. 

 After the first 2 hrs. the glands on all the tentacles began to 

 dry; and next morning, after 22 hrs., all three leaves appeared 

 almost dead, with their glands dry; the tentacles on one leaf 

 alone being partially inflected. 



A second plant was left for only 5 m. with some alcohol in a 

 watch-glass, under a 12-oz. receiver, and particles of meat were 

 then placed on the glands of several tentacles. After 10 m. 

 some of them began to curve inwards, and after 55 m. nearly 

 all were considerably inflected ; but a few did not move. Some 

 ansesthethic effect is here probable, but by no means certain. 

 A third plant was also left for 5 m. under the same small vessel, 

 with its whole inner surface wetted with about a dozen drops of 

 alcohol. Particles of meat were now placed on the glands of 

 several tentacles, some of which first began to move in 25 m. ; 

 after 40 m. most of them were somewhat inflected, and after 

 1 hr. 10 m. almost all were considerably inflected. From their 

 slow rate of movement there can be no doubt that the glands of 

 these tentacles had been rendered insensible for a time by 

 exposui'e during 5 m. to the vapour of alcohol. 



Vapour of Chloroform.— The action of this vapour on Drosera 

 is very variable, depending, I suppose, on the constitution or age 

 of the plant, or on some unknown condition. It sometimes 

 causes the tentacles to move with extraordinary rapidity, and 

 sometimes produces no such effect. The glands are sometimes 



