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Toxic aND ANTITOXIC Errerots oF Ions’ 725 
By the addition of MgSO, the toxic effects of MgCl, could 
not be done away with. But through the addition of large 
amounts of KCl, NH,Cl, or small amounts of SrCl, this was 
possible, as also—to a slight extent—through the addition 
of Ca(NO,),. The dilution at which a MgCl, solution 
hinders the development of an embryo is },m MgCl,. 
Table XVI shows a series of antitoxic experiments. NaCl 
and LiCl were just as unable to annihilate the toxic effects 
of the MgCl, solution as they were unable to annihilate the 
poisonous effects of « Ca(NO,), solution. When less than 
tcc. of a SrCl, solution was added, not a single egg 
could develop. 
10. If, in these experiments, only the kations have an 
antitoxic effect, and this the greater, the greater their elec- 
trical charge; and if in these antitoxic effects we are dealing 
only with electrical effects, then it is to be logically expected 
that the toxic effects which are inhibited in these cases are 
also electrical effects, and indeed the effects of the negative 
electrons. If the antitoxic ions are the strongly charged 
positive ions, then the toxic ions in the sodium-chloride solu- 
tion must be the Clions. But in a pure sodium-chloride 
solution we have just as many kations as anions, and in con- 
sequence just as many positive as negative electrical units. 
It is therefore not at once intelligible why the negative 
charges of the chlorine ions should be able to call forth 
poisonous effects in a sodium-chloride solution. If it is 
necessary for us to accept the fact that we are here dealing 
with electrical effects, then we are forced further to conclude 
that, for some reason or other, the negative charges of the 
chlorine ions attain a greater activity than the positive 
charges of the sodium ions. Nernst has pointed out the fact 
that the metallic ions tend to bind their electrical charges 
more strongly than the anions, and he brings this into con- 
nection with the fact that we are acquainted with kathode 
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