74 ACTION OF CHLOROFORM ON THE SENSITIVE PLANT* 
show that in the distillation there is also a substance con- 
taining more hydrogen formed ; it was, however, found 
impossible to isolate it. 
Lactate of Copper exhibits two stages of decomposition 
on destructive distillation. In the first period, which is 
between 392° and 410° F., carbonic acid and aldehyde 
appear, with a little hydrated lactic acid, the latter probably 
arising from the crystals retaining some water of crystalli- 
zation. The retort now contains metallic copper and anhy- 
drous lactic acid, the decomposition of which between 482° 
and 500° forms the second period. Lactates with strong 
bases are decomposed in a different manner. The author 
recommends the dry distillation of lactates with weak bases 
for the preparation of aldehyde. — Chemical Gazette, Sept. 
15, 1849 , from Liebig's Annalen, lxx. p. 241. 
ART. XIX.— ON THE ACTION OF CHLOROFORM ON THE 
SENSITIVE PLANT (MIMOSA PUDICA.) 
By Professor Marcet of Geneva. 
When one or two drops of pure chloroform are placed on 
the top of the common petiole of a leaf of the sensitive 
plant, this petiole is seen almost immediately to droop, and 
an instant after the folioles close successively pair by pair, 
beginning with those which are situated at the extremity of 
each branch.* At the end of one or two minutes, some- 
times more, according as the plant is more or less sensitive, 
most of the leaves next to the chloroformed leaf and situa- 
ted beneath it on the same stalk, droop one after another, 
and their folioles contract, although generally in a less com- 
* T previously convinced myself by experiment that a drop of 
water, placed delicately on a leaf of the sensitive plant, caused no 
movement. 
