400 
R. p. HIBBARD 
was changed four times daily. As a control for this experiment lo 
seedlings were suspended in another beaker of distilled water. The 
water in this beaker was not changed. At the end of 30 hours, even, 
these seedlings surpassed the growth of those left in distilled water 
without change. This can be seen from the obove table. 
The table below gives the data on another experiment extending 
over a period of four days. 
Distilled Water Changed 
Distilled Water Not Changed 
I St 24 
2d 24 
3d 24 
4th 24 
ist 24 
2d 24 
3d 24 
4th 24 
Seedling No. 
Hrs. 
Hrs. 
Hrs. 
Hrs. 
Hrs. 
Hrs. 
Hrs. 
Hrs. 
Growth 
Growth 
Growth 
Growth 
Growth 
Growth 
Growth 
Growth 
in J\lm. 
in Mm. 
n Mm. 
in Mm. 
in Mm. 
in Mm. 
in Mm. 
in Mm. 
I 
27 
34 
43 
46 
33 
39 
43 
48 
46 
2 
34 
37 
41 
45 
25 
33 
40 
3 
37 
42 
48 
55 
31 
35 
36 
41 
4 
33 
37 
47 
55 
37 
40 
43 
49 
5 
32 
40 
51 
58 
35 
38 
43 
51 
6 
35 
38 
47 
55 
34 
37 
42 
48 
7 
31 
34 
40 
45 
35 
40 
43 
48 
8 
37 
45 
50 
60 
36 
41 
45 
50 
9 
38 
44 
51 
61 
35 
39 
41 
45 
10 
38 
45 
53 
60 
36 
40 
42 
45 
34.2 
39-6 
47.1 
54-0 
33-7 
38.2 
41.8 
47.1 
Conclusion 
In regard to the question as to the toxicity of distilled water, the 
writer wishes to draw attention to the importance of considering the 
problem from the dynamic standpoint. To describe how the distilled 
water produces its effect, it is necessary to know what physical and 
chemical conditions prevail in the organism and what relation exists 
between the organism and the medium in which it lives. Our present 
knowledge of the physical and chemical nature of protoplasm, the 
basis of all organic life, is too fragmentary upon which to lay the foun- 
dation of any theory. However, it seems that one will not stray far 
away from the truth if he concludes the harmfulness of distilled water 
due not to any one predominant factor but rather to a resultant of 
many. These factors may be conceived of as forces bringing about a 
disturbance of the normal equilibrium of the various chemical and 
physical interactions within the organism and between it and its 
environment. 
In this paper only two aspects of the subject have been considered. 
