492 ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF CASCA BAKK. 



cesses, and on different ferments and ferment organisms, was 

 investigated in Experiments XII — XX. 



On germination the casca infusion was found to exert no 

 effect. 



Experiment XII. 



A few mustard seeds were placed on flannel in two saucers, 

 and kept moist in a warm place, the one with an infusion or 

 casca, the other with water. The seeds began to germinate at 

 the same time in each, and no difference was observed in the 

 growth of the shoots for three days afterwards. 



Effect on the Development of Bacteria. 

 Experiment XIII. 



This experiment, which was repeated on two other occasions, 

 shows that a weak solution of the alcoholic extract possesses 

 the power of hindering the formation of Bacteria, a proi)erty 

 ffiol shown by the watery extract, as is shown in Experiment 

 XIV. This difference in the properties of the two extracts 

 does not show itself in the general action of the drug on 

 animals ; but the power of the alcoholic extract to prevent the 

 development of Bacteria, while it is without action on them 

 after their development, is interesting, as substantiating the 

 results of Buchholz's experiments on this subject with other 

 drugs.* 



Three pieces of fresh muscular tissue were placed in bottles 

 on March 22nd. The first contained a watery solution of the 

 alcoholic extract of casca, the second a -^--J-^- solution of sulphate 

 of quinia, and the third distilled water. On March the 29th 

 the bottles were opened ; and while the bottle containing water 

 was very offensive, and the water was crowded with Bacteria, 

 neither the quinine nor casca solutions contained any Bacteria 

 at all. 



The bottle containing tlie casca solution was again examined 

 on May 14th, and was found, as before, quite free from Bacteria. 

 Long before this a thick crust of renicilliuiii had formed on its 

 surface. 



* Arcliivf. exper. Tatlologie u. FharmaJcologle, toI. iv, p. 1. 



