382 PINGUICULA VULGARIS. Cuap. XVL 
two or three days much reduced in size, rounded, rendered 
more or less colourless ani transparent, and so much softened 
that they fell to pieces on the slightest touch. In only one 
instance was a very minute particle completely dissolved, and 
this occurred within 48 hrs. When only a small amount of 
secretion was excited, this was generally absorbed in from 24 hrs. 
to 48 hrs.; the glands being left dry. But when the supply ot 
secretion was copious, round either a single rather large bit of 
meat, or round several small bits, the glands did not become 
dry until six or seven days had elapsed. The most rapid case 
of absorption observed by me was when a small drop of an 
infusion of raw meat was placed on a leaf, for the glands here 
became almost dry in 3 hrs. 20 m. Glands excited by small 
particles of meat, and which have quickly absorbed their own 
secretion, begin to secrete again in the course of seven or eight 
days from the time when the meat was given them. 
(8) Three minute cubes of tough cartilage from the leg-bone 
of a sheep were laid on a leaf. After 10 hrs. 30 m. some acid 
secretion was excited, but the cartilage appeared little or not at 
all affected. After 24 hrs. the cubes were rounded and much 
reduced in size; after 82 hrs. they were softened to the centre, 
and one was quite liquefied; after 35 hrs. mere traces of solid 
cartilage were left; and after 48 hrs. a trace could still be seen 
through a lens in only one of the three. After 82 hrs. not 
only were all three cubes completely liquefied, but all the secre- 
tion was absorbed and the glands left dry. 
(4) Small cubes of albumen were placed on a leaf; in 8 hrs. 
feebly acid secretion extended to a distance of nearly ~, of an 
inch round them, and the angles of one cube were rounded. 
After 24 hrs. the angles of all the cubes were rounded, and 
they were rendered throughout very tender; after 30 hrs. the 
secretion began to decrease, and after 48 hrs. the glands were 
left dry; but very minute bits of albumen were still left 
undissolved. 
(5) Smaller cubes of albumen (about 4 or py of an inch, 
508 or °423 mm.) were placed on four glands; after 18 hrs. one 
cube was completely dissolved, the others being much reduced 
in size, softened, and transparent. After 24 hrs. two of the 
cubes were completely dissolved, and already the secretion on 
these glands was almost wholly absorbed. After 42 hrs. the 
two other cubes were completely dissolved. These four glands 
began to secrete again after eight or nine days. 
(6) Two large cubes ot ulbumen (fully a; of an inch, 1-27 mm.) 
were placed, one near the midrib and the other near the margin 
