98 DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA. Cuar. V1 
the experiment was successful. For in a vessel con- 
taining two cubes, both were reduced in size in 3 hrs. ; 
and after 24 hrs. mere streaks of undissolved albu- 
men were left. In a second vessel, containing two 
minute ragged bits of albumen, both were likewise 
reduced in size in 3 hrs., and after 24 hrs. completely 
disappeared. I then added a little weak hydro- 
chlorie acid to both vessels, and placed fresh cubes 
of albumen in them; but these were not acted on. 
This latter fact is intelligible according to the high 
authority of Schiff,* who has demonstrated, as he 
believes, in opposition to the view held by some 
physiologists, that a certain small amount of pepsin 
is destroyed during the act of digestion. So that if 
my solution contained, as is probable, an extremely 
small amount of the ferment, this would have been 
consumed by the dissolution of the cubes of albumen 
first given; none being left when the hydrochloric 
acid was added. The destruction of the ferment 
during the process of digestion, or its absorption after 
the albumen had been converted into a peptone, will 
also account for only one out of the three latter sets 
of experiments -having been successful. 
Digestion of Roast Meat—Cubes of about 25 of an 
inch (1:27 mm.) of. moderately roasted meat were 
placed on five leaves which became in 12 hrs. closely 
inflected. After 48 hrs. I gently opened one leaf, and 
the meat now consisted of a minute central sphere, 
partially digested and surrounded by a thick envelope 
of transparent viscid fluid. The whole, without being 
much disturbed, was zemoved and placed under the 
microscope. In the central part the transverse stria 
on the muscular fibres were quite distinct; and it was 
* “Lecons pbvs. de la Digestion,’ 1867, tom. ii. pp. 114-126. 
