§ 1] MODIFICATION OF VITAL ACTIONS 



CH3\ /SO2CH3 



/ C \ is not poisonous ; 



« CH3/ \SO2CH3 



CH3\ /SO^C^H, 

 sulphonal : / C v is poisonous ; 



CH3/ \SO2CA 



CHsx /SO,C,K 



/ 



-'2^2J-^5 



trional : / ^ \ '^^ poisonous ; and 



The same holds for the acetals ; thus, 



CjH,/ ^SO^CA 



tetronal : / C C is more poisonous. 



H\ /O.CH3 Hv. yO.CjHj 



/ C \ is half as active as / C \ 



H/ \O.CH3 CH3/ \O.C2H5 



We find the same thing in the ethyl group, — 



CH3\ C,H,\ 



CH3— C - OH is less active than CH3— C - OH. 



GUy CH3/ 



trimethalcarbiQol. dlmethalethylcarbiDol. 



And also in the alcohols, — 



methyl alcohol, CH3OH, weak action ; 

 ethyl alcohol, C2H5OH, weak action ; 

 isopropyl alcohol, C3HJOH, stupefying. 



A few words now concerning the morphological changes ob- 

 served in protoplasm subjected to the action of poisons-belonging 

 to this group. Here belong especially the various anaesthetics. 



Chloroform and ether seem to affect all protoplasm anees- 

 thetically, that of the higher plants as well as that of the 

 higher animals. (Bernard, C, 78, and Eltting, F., '86.) 

 KiJHNE ('64, p. 100) first studied the effect of chloroform vapor 

 upon Tradescantia hairs, but Demoor ('94, p. 193) has since 

 described the action of this reagent in much more detail. 

 •| chloroform water at first (2 to 5 minutes) produces a very 

 intense excitement in the movements of the protoplasm, a 

 strong vacuolization occurs, and then the cytoplasm gradually 



