Cuar. VIIL THE EFfECTS OF ACIDS. 193 
was no inflection for about 12 hrs.; but after 23 hrs. almost all 
the tentacles were inflected. Three leaves were likewise im- 
mersed in unboiled linseed oil, and soon became somewhat, and 
in 3 hrs. greatly, inflected. After 1 hr. the secretion round the 
glands was coloured pink. I infer from this latter fact that the 
power of linseed oil to cause inflection cannot be attributed to 
the albumin which it is said to contain. 
Carbolic Acid.—Two leaves were immersed in sixty minims of 
a solution of 1 gr. to 487 of water; in 7 hrs. one was slightly, 
and in 24 hrs. both were closely, inflected, with a surprising 
amount of mucus secreted. These leaves were washed and left 
for two days in water; they remained inflected; most of their 
glands became pale, and they seemed dead. This acid is 
poisonous, but does not act nearly go rapidly or powerfully as 
might have been expected from its known destructive power on 
the lowest organisms. Half-minims of the same solution were 
placed on the discs of three leaves; after 24 hrs. no inflection of the 
outer tentacles ensued, and when bits of meat were given them, 
they became fairly well inflected. Again half-minims of a 
stronger solution, of one part to 218 of water, were placed on the 
discs of three leaves; no inflection of the outer tentacles ensued ; 
bits of meat were then given as before; one leaf alone became 
well inflected, the discal glands of the other two appearing 
much injured and dry. We thus see that the glands of 
the discs, after absorbing this acid, rarely transmit any motor 
impulse to the outer tentacles; though these, when their own 
glands absorb the acid, are strongly acted on. 
Lactic Acid.—Three leaves were immersed in ninety minims of 
one part to 437 of water. After 48 m. there was no inflection, 
but the surrounding fluid was coloured pink; after 8 hrs, 
30 m. one leaf alone was a little inflected, and almost all 
the glands on all three leaves were of a very pale colour, 
The leaves were then washed and placed in a solution (1 gr. 
to 20 oz.) of phosphate of ammonia; after about 16 hrs. there 
was only a trace of inflection. They were left in the phosphate 
for 48 hrs., and remained in the same state, with almost all 
their glands discoloured. The prutoplasm within the cells 
was not aggregated, except in a very few tentacles, the glands 
of which were not much discoloured.. I believe, therefore, 
that almost all the glands and tentacles had been killed by 
the acid so suddenly that hardly any inflection was caused. 
Four leaves were next immersed in 120 minims of a weaker 
solution, of one part to 875 of water; after 2 hrs. 80 m. the 
surrounding fluid was quite pink; the glands were pale, but 
