FIFTEENTH REPORT. 
130 
THE ANTITOXIC ACTION OF CHLORAL HYDRATE UPON COP- 
PER SULPHATE FOR PISUM SATIVUM. 
(Preliminary contribution.) 
With One Figure. 
BY RUFUS PERCIVAL HIBBARD. 
The problem of balanced solutions is of fundamental importance to 
general physiology, for it is recognized that each cell, plant or animal, 
is bathed by a fluid which may be conceived of as being a physiologically 
balanced solution. Moreover, the physiologist must needs use the facts 
of antagonism in interpreting the role of given elements or nutrients. O. 
Loew, the pioneer in researches of this nature, goes so far as to postulate 
that calcium in Hie cell is important largely as an antagonist. Again, 
it is conceivable that the normal tissues produce substances whose func- 
tion it is to inhibit or ameliorate the injurious products that are the 
results of metabolism. As a few> of the many examples, one might 
mention the inhibition of a too excessive amount of carbon dioxide in 
the tissues and the counteraction of the so-called “fatigue substances” 
in the body. 
The importance of' antagonistic action in agriculture is evident when 
one considers that the cultivated plants are wholly dependent on the 
soil solution which bathes the root hairs, and this soil solution can be 
conceived of as a physiologically balanced solution for such plants as 
thrive in that particular soil. It might be remarked that the bulk of 
experiments in the application of fertilizers and general agricultural 
practice have failed to consider the possible effects of such treatments 
upon the soil solution, and vice versa. 
Ringer was the first to observe antagonism between salts. He drew the 
conclusion that this phenomenon was based upon the fact that each 
salt when applied singly acted in the opposite way from that of its 
antagonist. Since his time, many have added to the sum total of our 
knowledge of balanced solutions. We know now of a large number of 
antagonistic actions and in addition are acquainted with certain theories 
to account for these conditions. The investigations of recent times have 
l>een led by Loeb, Lillie and Osterhout, the latter approaching the sub- 
ject from the standpoint of the botanist, so few of whom have entered 
this interesting field. 
As one reads the literature, he can not help but draw the conclusion 
that substances which act in an antagonistic manner may not after all 
be confined to a limited class of compounds. The great mass of ex- 
periments have been done with salts and only a few non-electrolytes have 
been tried — such, for example, as glycerine, urea and alcohol. It has 
been assumed, therefore, that salts alone show antagonism. We have 
only to refer to the work of Lillie 1 to see that outside this group of com- 
• Lillie. It. S., Ainer. Journ. Physiol., 1911. 21: 372-398. 
“ “ “ 1912 , 30 : 1 - 1 t . 
