Solution Tension and Toxicity in Lipolysts. 275 
The solution tension of mercury and silver is about equal, and hence 
according to Mathews’s theory they should be about equal in toxicity. 
When the other ratios are also considered, it is evident that the dis- 
agreement between theory and experiment is greater than the agree- 
ment, and one would be reluctant to formulate a law upon such slight 
conformity. : 
In this connection it is interesting to note the general agreement 
given by Mathews! in a comparison of the actual toxicity, as found 
by him, and the theoretical, as computed according to his own for- 
mula for the use of solution tension as a basis of computation. 
Mathews’s Table VI. gives the computed and found values of the 
minimum fatal dose in terms of a normal solution. Thus, the com- 
puted value for KCL is given as 0.948, and the found as 0.507- This 
is a considerable difference, and expressed upon the percentage basis 
means that the computed is greater than the found by 87 per cent. 
The following summary gives the difference between the computed 
and found, as calculated from Mathews’s table: 
Calcium chlorid Computed is greater than found by 50 per cent. 
Barium chlorid “ “cc &c “ ‘cc 55 “ec “c 
Potassium chlorid “ eee ‘“ ee ee Sy. 
Zinc chlori ‘“ ee ‘“ ce. gba ee 
Aluminum chlorid Computed is less than found by S65 Fo 
Magnesium chlorid oc. pe 1 & é< 6 roa ee 
Manganese chlorid e i Ed a tia. fe 
‘ “ce 
Ferrous chlorid sc tes = 6 ‘“ é“ “ 531 
The following agree sufficiently well: Cobalt, ferric iron, nickel, 
copper, mercury, sodium, and lithium. Of the fifteen here considered, 
four deviate more than 100 per cent, and four as much or more than 
50 per cent. : 
Here, again, it is merely a matter of judgment as to the conclusion 
to be drawn. Of course, the difference between theory and expert! 
_ ment expressed in per cent is often large, even in ordinary reactions 
with inanimate matter; but I think it would be perfectly safe to Say 
that such figures leave solution tension, as a determining factor in 
toxicity, in considerable doubt. 
1 MATHEWS: Loc. cit. 
