346 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL ..BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



found copper stored up in greatly increased quantity in 

 the numerous leucocytes which characterise this diseased 

 condition; so that probably these u copper " oysters even 

 cannot be trusted to free themselves from pathogenic 

 organisms through the action of their own copper. 



In dealing with such a case as that of the oyster, 

 however, it must be noted that there are two further 

 conditions which may effect the successful application of 

 the above-mentioned methods. In the first place the 

 pathogenic organisms are not necessarily free in the 

 water, but may be in or upon the living tissues of the 

 mollusc so as, possibly, to be protected from the toxic 

 action of the copper. Secondly, the washing of the living 

 oyster ; must be carried on in sea-water : there is 

 apparently a difference in some of the experiments 

 between distilled water and tap-water, and what further 

 complications may be introduced by the salts in the 

 medium surrounding the oyster has still to be determined. 

 In conjunction with Professor B. Moore, of the Depart- 

 ment of Biochemistry, we propose to investigate the whole 

 question of this oligodynamic action of copper and other 

 metals upon the organisms in shell-fish — with special 

 reference to oyster culture. 



