720 



STUDIES IN GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY 



Two other series of experiments yielded the same results. 

 It is worthy of note that the amount of a trivalent kation 

 capable of exerting a certain antitoxic effect is considerably 

 less than the amount of a bivalent kation necessary for the 

 same purpose. At the same time one notices, however, that 

 the number of eggs forming embryos is, even at the best, 

 lower than when bivalent kations are employed. The reason 

 for this lies, as I believe, in the fact that the trivalent ion 

 causes readily a coagulation of the egg contents, as direct 

 observation shows. But this coagulation is not exclusively 

 a function of the valency of the ions, for Cu, Hg, and to a 

 slight extent Pb have the same influence upon the egg. 

 The influence of the Cr ion in bringing about coagulation 

 is much more marked than is the case with Al, and its anti- 

 toxic effects are correspondingly slight, but yet definite. 



TABLE XII 



6. Since traces of trivalent kations and small amounts of 

 bivalent kations suffice thus to annihilate the poisonous 

 effects of a sodium-chloride solution, experiments were made 

 to ascertain if the same could also be brought about by 

 monovalent kations.. The experiments have thus far led to 

 no positive results. I tried to see if the poisonous effects of 

 a pure sodium-chloride solution could be done away with by 

 the addition of potassium salts (KC1 and K 2 SO 4 ). Small 

 amounts of potassium salts were entirely without effect. 



