ACTION ON INVERTEBRATA AND INFUSORIA. 401 



minutes it lay chiefly on its side, occasionally swiiiiniing about 

 •actively. 



At the end of 25 minutes from the time of injection it 

 appeared to have nearly recovered itself, and 1 c.c. more of the 

 alcoholic solution was injected. In 3 minutes from this time 

 it lay completely over on its side, having spasmodic twitchings 

 of its fins ; in 5 minutes the respirations again became rapid 

 and gasping; in 10 minutes the reflex movements were very 

 weak, but respiration and reflex action did not entirely cease 

 before 30 minutes after the second injection. 



General Action on Invertebrata. 



The following experiments (Nos. IX and X) show that the 

 drug exerts very little, if any, poisonous action on the In- 

 vertebrata. 



Experiment IX. 



A leech was placed in a watery solution of casca nearly as 

 strong as could be made with cold water. At the end of 

 2J hours it seemed but little affected, but w^as found dead on 

 the following morning. 



Experiment X. 



Nearly 5 c.c. of a concentrated alcoholic solution of casca 

 were injected beneath the back of a common snail. The animal 

 showed no signs of poisoning, and on the following morning 

 appeared to be uninjured. 



Action on Infu>orta. 

 Experiment XI. 



In Experiment XI we investigated its action on Infusoria by 

 placing a drop of tank-water containing some infusorians under 

 the microscope, and adding a drop of a -ji^ solution of the 

 watery extract of casca. At the end of 2 hours no alteration 

 in the movements of the animalcules was observed ; and it may 

 therefore be concluded that the drug exerted little or no action 

 on them. 



The action of the drug on germination and oxidation pro- 



