

SIMILARITY IN THE EFFECTS OF POTASSIUM 



CYANIDE AND OF ETHER 



W. J. V. OSTERHOUT 



(with one figure) 



The writer has pointed out that typical anesthetics, such as 

 ether, chloroform, and alcohol, produce a temporary decrease in 

 permeability. 1 In view of the fact that anesthesia is looked upon 

 by some as a form of asphyxiation, it seems desirable to investigate 

 the manner in which permeability is affected by KCN, which not 

 only acts as an anesthetic, but also inhibits oxidation to a 

 remarkable degree. 



The experiments here described were made in 191 2, in con- 

 nection with a series of experiments on anesthetics, of which a brief 

 announcement has already appeared. Since then a paper by 

 Krehan 2 has been published which states that KCN produces a 

 transitory increase of permeability which soon disappears. The 

 writer is unable to confirm this statement, as will appear from 

 the following account. 



The experiments were made on tissues of Laminaria Agardhii. 

 The permeability was measured by determining the electrical resist- 

 ance in the manner described in previous publications. 3 The KCN 

 employed was Kahlbaum's best, and the distilled water was pre- 

 pared with especial care. A solution of KCN of the same con- 

 ductivity as the sea water (about o. 381M) was prepared. This was 

 added to the sea water and its effect on the tissues was observed. 

 The following experiment will serve to illustrate the procedure. 



A lot of tissue which had in sea water a resistance of 1140 ohms 

 was placed in sea water to which had been added a solution of 

 KCN 0.181M in sufficient auantitv to make the concentration 



1 Osterhout, W. J. V., The effect of anesthetics upo 

 N.S.37: 111-112. 1913. 



*Internat. Zeit. f. Phys. Chem. Biol. 1:189. 1914- 



* Osterhout, W. J. V., The permeability of protoplasm 

 antagonism. Science N.S- 35:112-115. 1912. 



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Science 



[Botanical Gazette, vol. 63 



