»' 



1920] 



LANGDON &• GAILEY—CARBOX MONOXIDE 



233 



f 



since carbon dioxide is not found in the gas normally present within 

 the kelp. In general, the cut and corked sections of stipe remained 

 sound enough to be tight for a week or ten days, although evidence 

 of local decomposition was apparent. This production of carbon 

 monoxide, when the stine was filled with air. was confirmed hv 



determinations 



most 



appeared in quantities as great as 1 per cent or more. The pres- 

 ence or absence of the fronds had no relation to the carbon monoxide 

 formation. Carbon monoxide was produced by sections cut from 

 any part of the hollow stipe, filled with air, corked, and similarly 

 suspended in the sea. Even the round bulblike top of the stipe, 



TABLE I 



Time 



Percentage 



co 2 



Percentage 

 CO 



Percentage 



0, 



Start 



O.O 



o-3 

 0.0 



0.6 



1.0 



1. 1 



O.o 

 0.0 

 0.4 

 I.o 

 3-2 



4-5 



20.8 



24 hours 



16.5 

 13 .0 



48 hours 



73 hours 



7.0 



6.2 



07 hours 



no hours 



5.0 





devoid of fronds, would form it almost as readily as if practically 

 the whole of the plant were used. 



Two other methods of displacing by air the gas originally con- 

 tained within the kelp were used, but gave no difference in the 

 final results. The first of these was to insert a rubber tube at 

 the cut end, so that it extended the whole length of the stipe and 

 up into the bulblike top; then to force in through the tube a large 

 quantity of air, and thus sweep out all of the kelp gas. The other 

 method was to draw the original gas out by connecting the cut end 

 to a good suction filter pump. Alternately evacuating and filling 

 with air served to accomplish the desired substitution without 

 getting the inside of the gas cavity wet. It would be interesting 

 to make the substitution under strictly aseptic conditions, but this 

 the authors were not able to do. 



Since carbon monoxide was formed in quantity in the living 

 plant within a few days and was not formed by decay or autolysis, 

 it might have been formed either as a product of respiration or as 



