1910] STOCKBERGER—TOXIC SOLUTIONS AND MITOSIS 427 
2. Judged by its effect on mitosis, as compared with the effect 
of dilute solutions of copper sulfate, distilled water is itself a toxic 
solution. Apparently many abnormalities of cell behavior which 
have been attributed to the effect of toxic salts may be due instead 
to the osmotic action of the solution. 
3- The achromatic structures organized from the kinoplasm are 
most sensitive to toxic action. Since the spindle fibers are reduced 
to a granular mass or otherwise disorganized, the further progress 
of division is inhibited. 
4. Copper sulfate, phenol, and strychnin, under the conditions 
of these experiments, produce neither amitosis nor truly binucleate 
~ cells. 
5. No structures occurred in the material studied which the most 
charitable interpretation could homologize with the large fusion nuclei 
containing double the normal number of chromosomes, produced, 
as stated by NEMEC, ay a copper sulfate. solution acting on radicles 
of Vicia Faba. 
6. Doubling of the nucleolus is not a preparatory ae of amitosis, 
as stated by WasIELEwsKI. 
BUREAU oF PLANT INDUSTRY 
WASHINGTON, D.C. 
LITERATURE CITED 
I. ANDREws, F. M., The effects of alkaloids and a6 Fi BSE poisons on 
protoplasm. Proc. Indiana Acad. Sci. 1905:195~1 
2. ———,, The effect of gases on nuclear division. a of Botany 19: 
521-532. 1905. 
B 
3- Brazex, J., O olivu benzolu na délenf bunek rostliunych. (Ueber den 
Einfluss der Benzoldimpfe auf die pflanzliche Zelltheilung.) Abh. Bohm. 
Akad. 11:no. 17. 1902. oe 
4. CLARK, J. F., On the toxic effect of deleterious agents on the germination 
and development of certain filamentous fungi. Bor. GazeTrE 28: 289-328, 
378-405. 1899. 
5. Czapek, F., Biochemie der Pflanzen 2: g28. 1905. 
6. Davenport, C. B., Experimental morphology 1: 897. 
7- Demoor, J., peas Rigs Vétude de la pike de la cellule. Arch. 
Biologie 13: 163-244. 1 
8. GERASsIMow, 3.1, var Piyaiclogie der Zelle. Bull. Soc. Imp. Nat. Mos- 
COW I1904:no. I. pp. 134. 
