168 DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA. [Chap. IX. 



the leaves, ofter 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. 



Poison from the Fang of a Living Adder. Minute drops were 

 placed on the glands of many tentacles; these were quickly in- 

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

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

 uninjured. 



Poison from the Cobra. Dr. Fayrer, well known from his in- 

 vestigations 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 jiiy of a minim) of a solution of one part to 437 of water was 

 applieil to the secretion round four glands; so that each received 

 only about ^riinr of a grain (.0016 mg.). The operation was re- 

 peated on four other glands ; and in 15 m. several of the eight ten- 

 tacles became well inflected, and all of them in 2 hrs. Next morn- 

 ing, 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. 



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

 three leaves, so that each received ^^ of a grain (.0G75 mg.) ; in 

 4 hrs. 15 m. the outer tentacles were much inflected; and after 

 6 hrs. 30 m. those on two of the leaves were closely inflected, and 

 the blade of one ; the third leaf was only moderately alTected. The 

 leaves remained in the same state during the next day, but after 

 48 hrs. re-expanded. 



Three leaves were now immersed, each in thirty minims of the 

 solution, so that each received ^ of a grain, or 4.048 mg. In 6 m. 

 there was some inflection, which steadily increasetl. so that after 

 2 hrs. 30 m. all three leaves were closely inflected; tlie glunds 

 were at first somewliat darkened, then rendere<l pale; and the pro- 

 toplasm within the cells of the tentacles was partially aggregated. 

 The little masses of protoplasm were examined after 3 hi-s., and 

 again after 7 hrs., and on no other occasion have I seen them under- 

 going such rapid changes of form. After 8 hrs. 30 m. the glands had 

 become quite white; they had not secreted any great quantity of 

 mucus. The leaves were now place<l in water, and after 40 hrs. re- 

 expanded, showing that they were not much or at all injured. 

 During their immersion in water the protoplasm within the cells 

 of the tentacles was occasionally examined, and always found in 

 strong movement. 



Two leaves were next immerse<l, each in thirty minims of a 

 much stronger solution, of one part to 100 of water; so that each 

 received ^ of a grain, or 16.2 mg. After 1 hr. 45 m. the sub- 



Dr. Fayrer, 'The Thanatopbldia of Inaia,' 1872, p. 130. 



