84 DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA. [Cuav. VI. 
“Le gonflement par lequel commence la digestion ‘de la viande, 
résulte de Vaction du suc gastrique acide sur le tissu connectif qui sv 
dissout d’abord, et qui, par sa liquéfaction, désagréze les fibrilles. 
Celles-ci'se dissolvent ensuite en grande partie, mais, avant de passer 
a état liquide, elles tendent 4 se briser en petits fragments transver- 
saux. Les ‘ sarcous elements’ de Bowman, qui ne sont autre chose que 
les produits de cette division transversale des fibrilles élémentaires, 
peuvent étre préparés et isolés 4 aide du suc gastrique, pourvu qu’on 
vattend pas jusqu’a la liquéfaction compléte du muscle.” 
After an interval of 72 hrs., from the time when the five 
cubes were placed on the leaves, I opened the four remaining 
ones. On two nothing could be seen but little masses of 
transparent viscid fluid; but when these were examined 
under a high power, fat-globules, bits of fibro-elastic tissue, 
and some few parallelograms of sarcous matter, could be 
distinguished, but not a vestige of transverse strie. On 
the other two leaves there were minute spheres of only 
partially digested meat in the centre of much transparent 
fluid. 
Fibrin.—Bits of fibrin were left in water during four days, 
whilst the following experiments were tried, but they were 
not in the least acted on. The fibrin which I first used was 
not pure, and included dark particles: it had either not been 
well prepared or had subsequently undergone some change. 
Thin portions, about 1, of an inch square, were placed on 
several leaves, and though the fibrin was soon liquefied, the 
whole was never dissolved. Smaller particles were then 
placed on four leaves, and minute drops of hydrochloric acid 
(one part to 437 of water) were added ; this seemed to hasten 
the process of digestion, for on one leaf all was liquefied and 
absorbed after 20 hrs.; but on the three other leaves some 
undissolved residue was left after 48 hrs. It is remarkable 
that in all the above and following experiments, as well as 
when much larger bits of fibrin were used, the leaves were 
very little excited; and it was sometimes necessary to add 
a little saliva to induce complete inflection. The leaves, 
moreover, began to re-expand after only 48 hrs., whereas 
they would have remained inflected for a much longer time 
had insects, meat, cartilage, albumen, &c., been placed on 
them. 
I then tried some pure white fibrin, sent me by Dr. 
Burdon Sanderson. 
