Strychnine upon some Somatic Cells. 10 75 
normal. It is conceivable that between the animal egg and the plant-cell 
a similar physiological difference may be the cause of the difficulty in 
inducing, in the plant, types of mitosis which occur readily in the egg-cell 
of the animal. 
Summary and Conclusion. 
Somatic tissues of the Pea (Pisum Sativum ) and Bean (Vicia Faba) 
were treated with the sulphate and hydrochloride of strychnine with a view 
to inducing the occurrence of the abnormal divisions described by Hertwig 
in 1896. No such figures were found. 
In order to promote dissociation of the salts, and thereby possibly their 
absorption by the roots, the strychnine solutions were made slightly alkaline 
with sodium carbonate or hydrate. These alkaline solutions had no greater 
effect than those of natural reaction. The penetration of the poison into the 
tissue therefore appeared doubtful. 
A series of experiments with water-culture Peas was carried out with 
two objects : (1) in order to utilize the factor of transpiration, and so 
promote absorption of the strychnine ; (2) in order to make extractions of the 
stems and leaves for strychnine, and so obtain a positive datum as to the 
entry of the poison into the root- cells. 
The presence of strychnine in the stems was demonstrated by this 
method, and correlatively its absorption by the roots. Microscopical 
examination of the latter, however, yielded results similar to those obtained 
in the earlier experiments, and no abnormal divisions were found. 
These results indicate that strychnine exercises no specific effect 
upon the tissues used in the above experiments, exciting in them no 
definite physiological response, but only, if used in sufficient strength, 
producing a general disturbance of metabolism, from which recovery is 
doubtful and which generally precedes degeneration. 
In conclusion, I take the opportunity of thanking Professor J. Bretland 
Farmer, F.R.S., for his advice and direction in this investigation; and also 
Dr. M. A. Whiteley for most kindly giving me detailed help in making the 
necessary chemical examinations. 
Bibliography. 
1. Delage, T. H. : Nouvelles recherches sur la parthenogenese experimentale chez Asterias 
glacialis. Archives de Zoologie Experimentale, 1902, 3 me serie, pp. 214-35. 
2 . Galeotti, G. : Ueber experimentelle Erzeugung von Unregelmassigkeiten des karyokinetischen 
Processes. Beitrage z. pathologischen Anat. u. z. allgemeinen Pathologie, 1893, 
pp. 288-314. 
3 . Hertwig, O. and R. : Ueber den Befruchtungs- und Teilungsvorgang des tierischen Eies unter 
dem Einfluss ausserer Agenten. Jena, 1887. 
