634 
DE. T. lu BEUNTON AND ME. W. PYE ON THE ACTION 
In three minutes from this time it lay completely over on its side, having spasmodic 
twitchings of its tins ; in five minutes the respirations again became rapid and gasping ; 
in ten minutes the reflex movements were very weak, but respiration and reflex action 
did not entirely cease before thirty minutes after the second injection. 
GENEEAL ACTION ON INYEETEBEATA. 
The following experiments (Nos. IX. and X.) show that the drug exerts very little, if 
any, poisonous action on the Invertebrata. 
Experiment IX. 
A leech was placed in a watery solution of casca nearly as strong as could be made 
with cold water. At the end of two hours and a half it seemed but little affected, but 
was found dead on the following morning. 
Experiment X. 
Nearly 5 cub. centims. of a concentrated alcoholic solution of casca were injected 
beneath the back of a common snail. The animal showed no signs of poisoning, and on 
the following morning appeared to be uninjured. 
ACTION ON INFUSOEIA. 
Experiment XI. 
In Experiment XI. we investigated its action on Infusoria by placing a drop of tank- 
water containing some infusorians under the microscope, and adding a drop of a 
solution of the watery extract of casca. At the end of two hours no alteration in the 
movements of the animalcules was observed; and it may therefore be concluded that 
the drug exerted little or no action on them. 
The action of the drug on germination and oxidation processes, and on different fer- 
ments and ferment organisms, was investigated in Experiments XII.-XX. 
On germination the casca infusion was found to exert no effect. 
Experiment XII. 
A few mustard seeds were placed on flannel in two saucers, and kept moist in a warm 
place, the one with an infusion of casca, the other with water. The seeds began to 
germinate at the same time in each, and no difference was observed in the growth of the 
shoots for three days afterwards. 
Effect on the Development of Bacteria. 
Experiment XIII. 
This experiment, which was repeated on two other occasions, shows that a weak solu- 
tion of the alcoholic extract possesses the power of hindering the formation of Bacteria , 
