126 



THE MECHANISM OF LIFE 



A fragment of fused calcium chloride dropped into this 

 solution will produce a rapid growth of slender osmotic forms 

 which may attain a height of 20 or SO centimetres. 



Small pellets may also be made of one part of sugar and 

 two of copper sulphate and sown in the following solution, 

 which must be kept warm until the growth is complete :— 



Ten per cent, solution of gelatine . . .10 to 20 c.c. 



Saturated solution of potassium ferrocyanide . 5 to 10 c.c. 



Saturated solution of sodium chloride . . 5 to 10 c.c. 



Warm water (32° to 40° C.) . • - 100 c.c. 



Fig. 37. — Osmotic vermiform growth. 



(a) The sickle-shaped growth. 



{A) The growth broken by the upward pressure of the solution. 



(c) The wound having cicatrized, the sicm continues to grow downwards. 



In this solution \w can obtain osmotic growths which 

 may attain to a height of 10 centimetres or more, vegetable 

 forms, roots, arborescent bwigs, leaves, and terminal organs. 

 These growths are stable as soon as the gelatine lias cooled and 

 set, and may be carried about without fear of injury (Fig. S5), 



Precipitated osmoiic membranes are very widely distributed 

 in nature. Professor Ulenhuth has seen iron growths in 

 alkaline sodium hypochlorite (Javelle water), and Lecha- 

 Marzo lias demonstrated the osmotic growth of the various 



