168 DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLLA. [Cuar. IX. 
what a singular manner immersion in certain non-poisonous salts and 
acids prevents the subsequent action of phosphate of ammonia, 
whereas other solutions have no such power, my first conviction seems 
very doubtful. 
Extract of Hyoscyamus.—Several leaves were placed, each in thirty 
minims of an infusion of 3 grs. of the extract sold by druggists to 1 oz. 
of water. One of them, after being immersed for 5 hrs. 15 m., was 
not inflected, and was then put into a solution (1 gr. to 1 oz.) of car- 
bonate of ammonia; after 2 hrs. 40 m. it was found considerably 
inflected, and the glands much blackened. Four of the leaves, after 
being immersed for 2 hrs. 14 m., were placed in 120 minims of a 
solution (1 gr. to 20 oz.) of phosphate of ammonia; they had already 
become slightly inflected from the hyoscyamus, probably owing to the 
presence of some albuminous matter, as formerly explained, but the 
inflection immediately increased, and after 1 hr. was strongly pro- 
nounced; so that hyoscyamus does not act as a narcotic or poison. ~ 
Poison from the Fang of a Living Adder.—Minute drops were 
placed on the glands of many tentacles; these were quickly inflected, 
just as if saliva had been given them. Next morning, after 17 hrs. 
30 m., all were beginning to re-expand, and they appeared uninjured. 
Poison from the Cobra.—Dr. Fayrer, well known from his investi- 
gations on the poison of this deadly snake, was so kind as to give me 
some in a dried state. It is an albuminous substance, and is believed 
to replace the ptyaline of saliva.* A minute drop (about 4 of a 
minim) of a solution of one part to 437 of water was applied to the 
secretion round four glands; so that each received only about z,4¢5 of 
a grain (0016 mg.). The operation was repeated on four other 
glands; and in 15 m. several of the eight tentacles became well 
inflected, and all of them in 2 hrs. Next morning, after 24 hrs, they 
were still inflected, and the glands of a very pale piak colour. After 
an additional 24 hrs. they were nearly re-expanded, and completely so 
on the succeeding day; but most of the glands remained almost 
white. 
Half-minims of the same solution were placed on the discs of three 
leaves, so that each received 71, ofa grain (*0675 mg.); in4 hrs. 15m. 
the outer tentacles were much inflected; and after 6 hrs. 30 m. 
those on two of the leaves were closely inflected and the blade of one; 
the third leaf was only moderately atfected. ‘The leaves remained in 
the same state during the next day, but after 48 hrs. re-expanded, 
Three leaves were now immersed, each in thirty minims of the 
solution, so that each received J; of a grain, or 4°048 mg. In 6 m. 
there was some inflection, which steadily increased, so that after 2 hrs. 
30 m. all three leaves were closely inflected; the glands were at first 
somewhat darkened, then rendered pale; and the protoplasm within 
the cells of the tentacles was partially aggregated. The little masses 
* Dr, Fayrer, ‘The Thanatophidia of India,’ 1872, p. 150. 
