THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF IONS 465 



given here ; so long, indeed, that the muscle may be regarded 

 as dead. It was found that the increase in weight continues, 

 even though less rapidly, with an increase in the time. 



The following table shows the amount of water absorbed 

 in twenty-four hours when V = 210 and V = 110: 



TABLE XI 



One sees again that the quantitative effects of the solu- 

 tions of the three bases is nearly the same as soon as the 

 same number of OH ions are contained in the unit volume. 

 In Table XII is given the amount of water absorbed by 

 muscles after a residence of eighteen hours in solutions of 

 acids when V= 110 (or 210): 



TABLE XII 



When the muscle is kept for a long time in acids, the muscle 

 substance becomes liquefied. This is especially noticeable 

 in the inorganic acids, and in oxalic and lactic acid. The 

 absorption of water has in itself nothing to do with this pro- 

 cess, as nothing of the sort is observed in the alkali solutions, 

 even though the absorption of water is much greater in these. 1 



II suppose that this liquefaction is due to a hydrolysis which in the presence of 

 acid is accelerated by the pepsin in the muscle. [1903] 



