340 DEOSOPHYLLUM LUSITANICUM. Chap. XV. 



completely liquefied, but with a few white streaks 

 still visible ; the other was much rounded, but not 

 quite dissolved. Two other cubes were left on tall 

 glands for 2 hrs. 45 m., by which time all the secre- 

 tion was absorbed; but they were not perceptibly 

 acted on, though no doubt some slight amount of 

 animal matter had been absorbed from them. They 

 were then placed on the small sessile glands, which 

 being thus stimulated secreted copiously in the 

 course of 7 hrs. One of these cubes was much 

 liquefied within this short time ; and both were com- 

 pletely liquefied after 21 hrs. 15 m. ; the little liquid 

 masses, however, still showing some white streaks. 

 These streaks disappeared after an additional period 

 of 6 hrs. 30 m. ; and by next morning (i.e. 48 hrs. 

 from the time when the cubes were first placed on 

 the glands) the liquefied matter was wholly absorbed. 

 A cube of albumen was left on another tall gland, 

 which first absorbed the secretion and after 24 hrs. 

 poured forth a fresh supply. This cube, now sur- 

 rounded by secretion, was left on the gland for an 

 additional 24 hrs., but was very little, if at all, acted 

 on. We may, therefore, conclude, either that the 

 secretion from the tall glands has little power of diges- 

 tion, though strongly acid, or that the amount poured 

 forth from a single gland is insufficient to dissolve a 

 particle of albumen which within the same time would 

 have been dissolved by the secretion from several of the 

 small sessile glands. Owing to the death of my last 

 plant, I was unable to ascertain which of these alter- 

 natives is the true one. 



Four minute shreds of pure fibrin were placed, 

 each resting on one, two, or three of the taller glands. 

 In the course of 2 hrs. 30 m. the secretion was all 

 absorbed, and the shreds were left almost dry. They 



