THE HARMFUL ACTION OF DISTILLED WATER 
271 
in the proteids, and other chemical structures of the cell ensues. 
These dissociated electrolytes escape from the cell and increase the 
conductivity of the distilled water. When a calcium salt is added to 
the distilled water sufficient to make it osmotically equal to tap 
water, this dissociating power of the distilled water over the proteids and 
other chemical mechanisms of the cells is largely undeveloped, and the 
chemical integrity of the cells is protected in some way not known. 
This report is preliminary in its nature and is to be followed at a 
future date by a further contribution reporting the results of work now 
under way. 
Bureau of Plant Industry, 
U. S. Department of Agriculture. 
LITERATURE CITED 
1. Sachs, J. Bericht iiber die physiologic Thatigkeit an der Versuchsstation in 
Tharandt. 11. Wurzelstudien. Landwirthschaftl. Versuchsstat. 2: 1-31, 
i860. 
2. Knop, W. Untersuchungen iiber die Aufnahme der Mineralsalze durch die 
Pflanzengewebe. Landwirthschaftl. Versuchsstat. 6: 81-107, 1864. 
3. Boehm, J. Ueber den vegetabilischen Nahrwerth der Kalksalze. Sitzungsber. 
kais. Akad. Wiss. Wien. 71: 287-304, 1875. Reprinted in French in Ann. 
Agron. i: 470-478, 1S75. 
4. Deherain, P. P. Sur I'assimilation des substances minerales par les plantes. 
Ann. Agron. 4: 321-349, 1878. 
5. Kolliker, A. Ueber die Vitalitat der Nervenrohren der Frosche. Wiirzburger 
Verhandlungen 7: 145-147, 1856. 
6. Nasse, O. Beitrage zur Physiologic der contraction Substanz. Pfliiger's 
Archiv ges. Physiol. 2: 119, 1869. 
7. Ringer, Sydney. The influence of saline media on fishes. Jour. Physiol. 4: VI, 
1883. 
8. Loew, O. Bemerkungen iiber die Giftwirkung des destillirten Wassers. Land- 
wirthschaftl. Jahrb. 20: 235, 1891. 
9. Nageli, C. von. Ueber oligodynamische Erscheinungen in Icbenden Zellen. 
Denkschrift schweizcr. naturforsch. Gesellsch. 33: 1-52, 1893. 
10. Locke, F. S. On a supposed action of distilled water as such on certain animal 
organisms. Journ. Physiol. 18: 319-331, 1895. 
11. Ringer, Sydney. The action of distilled water on Tubifex. Journ. Physiol. 22: 
XIV-XV, 1897-1898. 
12. Deherain, P. P. et Demoussy, E. Sur la germination dans I'eau distillee.- 
Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris 132: 523, 1901. 
13. Bokomy, Th. Das Kupfer und die Giftwirkung des destillirten Wassers. 
Chem. Zeit. 29: 687, 1905. 
14. Lyon, E. P. A biological examination of distilled water. Biol. Bull. 6: 198-202, 
1904. 
