Miscellaneous. 149 



of the first type, M. Dumas arrives at this conclusion, that fermen- 

 tation is a chemical phenomenon accomplished under the necessary 

 influence of the life of the ferment. After investigating the action 

 of a great number of substances on yeast, the illustrious chemist 

 examines the properties of borax. This substance coagulates yeast, 

 dissolves the membranes which remain in suspension in an unfil- 

 tered solution of white of egg, prevents the conversion of the sugar 

 by the water of the yeast, arrests the action of diastase, and para- 

 lyzes synaptase. M. Dumas expects that the study of borax will 

 lead to consequences of the highest importance. 



M. Dumas's communication forms the starting-point of the fol- 

 lowing observations and experiments. 



I. The Action of Borax on the Protoplasm of Vegetable Cells. 



1. Some leaves of Elodea canadensis (the rotation of the proto- 

 plasm in the cells of which is readily observed) were immersed in a 

 concentrated solution of borax. The plasmatic current continues 

 for some minutes, then becomes slower and stops altogether. Tho 

 protoplasm contracts, retires from the cell-wall, and condenses into 

 one or two rounded masses enclosing grains of chlorophyl. The 

 borax has killed the living material of the cell. 



2. In observing the issue of the spores of VaucJieria clavata in 

 water, I was able to verify, in the long tubular cell of some indi- 

 viduals which did not possess spores, movements of contraction of 

 the protoplasm, which became differentiated into green balls moving 

 in different directions in the interior of the cell. When, by a slight 

 pressure, the protoplasm is expelled from the cell, either in balls or in 

 shapeless masses, there are still perceived in it for a little time lively 

 molecular movements. 



On immersing fresh and intact Vaucherioi in a concentrated solu- 

 tion of borax, the protoplasm coagulates and retires from the cell- 

 wall, which becomes perfectly hyaline. 



The action produced by borax on the globules of chlorophyl is 

 striking ; they contract, and bend themselves into the shape of a 

 crescent. 



The spores of VaucJieria, after coming out of the mother cell, ex- 

 ecute in water rapid movements of translation by means of their 

 minute vibrating cilia. In a borax solution these movements are 

 almost instantly arrested, the protoplasm of the spore contracts and 

 is transformed into a finely granular mass within the cell. 



3. I watched the effect of a solution of borax upon O'idium Tuclceri, 

 which had attacked some grapes. In pure water, molecular move- 

 ments are observed within the hyphse and spores, independent of 

 the plasmatic currents. The material contained in the cells of the 

 fungus exhibits the same molecular movements when by a slight 

 pressure it is diffused in water. Under the influence of a solution 

 of borax the spores and hypha3 of the O'idium contract ; the latter 

 twist, while their contents coagulate into a granular mass : the 

 fundus is killed. The molecular movements of the substance that 



