574 Williams. — On the Influence of Immersion in certain 
experiments carried out in test-tubes give different values according to the 
speed with which the electrolyte is added and according to the amount of 
agitation. 
No theory can at present be put forward to account for the formula 
obtained in the experiments described, but there are certain facts, set out 
below, which seem to indicate that the poisonous action of these strong 
solutions of salts is bound up with adsorption of ions and coagulation of 
colloids of the protoplasm. 
I. The value of 1 k ’ for the potassium salts, beginning with the smallest, 
runs in the order 
dichromate ( chloride ( nitrate ( iodide, 
while the order of precipitation values for potassium salts acting upon 
colloidal iron oxide is found by Weiser and Middleton (7) to be exactly 
the same. 
II. When experiments were made with salts of aluminium it was 
found far weaker concentrations sufficed to produce the critical change in 
a given time than sufficed with either potassium or sodium salts. 
III. Deviations from the equation occur with the more dilute solutions, 
comparatively greater action taking place than with stronger solutions ; 
these deviations seem comparable with those found for dye taken up from 
baths of different strengths by colloidal matter ( 8 ). 
When the constants for sodium salts are examined it is curious to find 
that the co-efficient values, using different anions, run in exactly the 
reverse way to those found for potassium. It is interesting to find that in 
experiments by Pauli on anion adsorption by albumin cases were found 
where, in HC1 concentration of o-oi N to 2 N, the order of anion 
adsorption was reversed ( 5 ). With a view to finding simpler time relation- 
ships for coagulation of the colloids by electric charges it seems helpful to 
study a case in which charges of one kind only are used, instead of using 
an electrolyte where one may have negative ions, positive ions, and 
undissociated molecules. At the present time experiments are being made 
upon the same plant material under the action of radium. When the 
latter is contained in a platinum tube the a-rays, carrying positive charges, 
are cut out, and the plant cells can be submitted to the action of the -/3-rays, 
which carry negative charges. An endeavour is being made to connect 
time of action needed to produce the change in permeability with the 
intensity of radiation. There may possibly be certain effects to be allowed 
for due to the very ‘ hard * X-rays which accompany the /3-rays. 
Further light perhaps may be thrown upon the action of the salts by 
carrying out experiments with one particular electrolyte over a range of 
temperatures and finding the changes in k and K. It may also prove 
helpful to carry out experiments expressing results in terms of electric 
conductivities of solutions instead of molecular concentrations. 
