MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 
137 
chloral hydrate in antagonizing’ copper sulphate might come about 
through the anticatalytic action of the organic substance. How far this 
explanation can be applied to other cases of antagonism is not de- 
termined, but it may be applicable in some analogous way. 
Antagonism as it now stands is a phenomenon of wide scope one which 
is judged merely from the effects produced by combinations of chemi- 
cals. Until refinement of definition based on physiological differences in 
the reactions, is possible, it is at least permissible to class the antitoxic 
action obtained above through the means of chloral hydrate, (with the 
reported observations). If the results obtained are strictly comparable, a 
considerable increase in the scope of antagonistic action is thus given. 
In the experiments reported above very dilute solutions of copper sul- 
phate and chloral hydrate were used and neither of these are known to 
be of nutritive value in any concentration. When we find antitoxic 
action in such dilutions and between such bodies, we necessarily widen 
the field of inquiry and eliminate many irrelevant factors. 
E. P. HIBBARD, 
Experiment Station. 
Michigan Agricultural College. 
