5 t 8 Armstrong . — The Function of Hormones in 
sive ; any hormone that is added incautiously and even distilled water 
will cause the ultimate break-down of the cell if the action be continued 
long enough. 
We have contended in our communication to the Royal Society that 
one effect of the entry of a hormone is to condition the introduction of water 
and that the consequent dilution of the cell contents would determine the 
occurrence of down-grade changes. In the living cell, at any moment, the 
changes taking place forward (synthetic) and backward (analytic) must 
necessarily be in equilibrium ; in the egg, presumably, the state is one ot 
almost restful equilibrium. The effect of dilution should be to disturb the 
equilibrium previously existing in the analytic rather than in the synthetic 
direction. Loeb’s observations show clearly that such an effect is produced. 
But the increase of katabolic activity cannot well be the only effect pro- 
duced by the hormone ; probably the protoplasmic structure is also affected 
by it. Darwin has called particular attention to the visible changes effected 
within the cell ; Loeb’s observations afford further proof that internal turmoil, 
eventually amounting to complete disaggregation of structure, is conditioned 
by the entry of foreign matter. 
It appears to us probable that a primary effect of the hormone is to 
condition the separation from each other of the successive layers which may 
be supposed to constitute the protoplasmic complex ; although deposited 
in close contact, these are perhaps sheathed with thin layers of hydrone 
molecules and disintegration sets in when the aqueous layers are penetrated 
by the hormone. A similar effect would be produced by freezing. Assuming 
such changes to happen, enzymes previously stored in the cells would be set 
at liberty and by their action the proportion of molecules in solution would 
be rapidly and largely increased — in other words, the osmotic tension 
would be raised and a flow of water determined to the region in which 
the hormone is active. 
Waller has contended that the effect studied by us is a death pheno- 
menon. This appears to us, however, to be merely a Wallerian facon de 
parler based on a definition of death peculiar to himself. Whether or no 
the action of a hormone be followed by death is apparently entirely a ques- 
tion of the amount administered — Darwin’s observations and horticultural 
practice disprove Waller’s statement. According to Loeb, benzene, toluene 
and a great number of other substances at once condition the formation of 
the fertilization membrane in sea-urchin eggs but this is rapidly followed 
by necrosis unless care be taken to initiate the change by a minimal dose. 
If the eggs are immersed in sea-water containing amylene or benzene, the 
membrane is formed at once while they are in the liquid ; if fatty acids are 
used, the membrane is formed only when the eggs are taken out of the 
mixture and restored to fresh sea-water. 
The process of alternate ‘ decay ’ and repair, obvious in Drosera , is 
