84 DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA. Cnar. V, 
fact that water at this temperature extracts matter from them 
which excites Drosera to an extraordinary degree. 
Grasses contain far less pitrogenous matter than do peas or 
cabbages. The leaves and stalks of three common kinds were 
chopped and boiled for some time in distilled water. Drops 
of this decoction (after having stood for 24 hrs.) were placed 
on six leaves, and acted in a rather peculiar manner, of which 
other instances will be given in the seventh chapter on the 
salts of ammonia. After 2 hrs. 30 m. four of the leaves had 
their blades greatly inflected, but not their exterior tentacles ; 
and so it was with all six leaves after 24 hrs. Two days after- 
wards the blades, as well as the few submarginal tentacles which 
had been inflected, all re-expanded; and much of the fluid on 
their discs was by this time absorbed. It appears that the de- 
coction strongly excites the glands on the disc, causing the blade 
to be quickly and greatly inflected; but that the stimulus, dif- 
ferently from what occurs in ordinary cases, does not spread, or 
only in a feeble degree, to the exterior tentacles. 
I may here add that one part of the extract of belladonna 
(procured from a druggist) was dissolved in 437 of water, and 
drops were placed on six leaves. Next day all six were some- 
what inflected, and after 48 hrs. were completely re-expanded. 
It was not the included atropine which produced this effect, for 
I subsequently ascertained that it is quite powerless. I also 
procured some extract of hyoscyamus from threo shops, and 
made infusions of the same strength as before. Of these three 
infusions, only one acted on some of the leaves, which were 
tried. Though druggists believe that all the albumen is pre- 
cipitated in the preparation of these drugs, I cannot doubt that 
some is occasionally retained; and a trace would be sufficient 
to excite the more sensitive leaves of Drosera. 
