1876 MEDUSA 2.5 



Altogether, then, this part of the inquiry is very 

 perplexing. Other parts are definite enough. All the 

 poisons, for instance, yield verj- definite results, which 

 are in conformity with their actions elsewhere. 



I have had no time to do anything at the histolog)' 

 as yet. ^ould it be worth while for me to send \o\\ 

 various species in a Httle sea water ? They would 

 arrive in a tolerably fresh condition, but would require 

 to be examined at once. I might try sending some 

 in spirit and others in chromic acid. I have made a 

 few preliminary experiments with the galvanometer 

 on Sarsia, placing one electrode on the margin and 

 another on the muscular sheet, but without any 

 decided results. I also tried placing a Sarsia in one 

 beaker and simple sea water in another, connecting 

 by means of the electrodes, but no disturbance was 

 observable. 



June 4. 



I am working very hard just now, as there are so 

 many irons to keep hot at once. It is too soon yet 

 to see the results of spring grafting on the many 

 plants I have operated on, and I have not had time 

 to do anything with animals since I left London. 



The Medusae have now come on in their legion, 

 and occupy my undivided attention. The results so 

 far have proved as definite as they are interesting 

 and important. The following is a summary of the 

 principal. 



All genera of naked-eyed yet examined become 

 immediately and permanently paralysed (except 

 polypite) upon excision of margin, but not so with 

 the covered-eyed. 



