Acetate of Morphia.—I tried a great number of experiments with this
substance, but with no certain result. A considerable number of leaves
were immersed from between 2 hrs. and 6 hrs. in a solution of one part
to 218 of water, and did not become inflected. Nor were they poisoned;
for when they were washed and placed in weak solutions of phosphate and
carbonate of ammonia, they soon became strongly inflected, with the
protoplasm in the cells well aggregated. If, however, whilst the leaves
were immersed in the morphia, phosphate of ammonia was added,
inflection did not rapidly ensue. Minute drops of the solution were
applied in the usual manner to the secretion round between thirty and
forty glands; and when, after an interval of 6 m:, bits of meat, a
little saliva, or particles of glass, were placed on them, the movement
of the tentacles was greatly retarded. But on other occasions no such
retardation occurred. Drops of water similarly applied never have any
retarding power. Minute drops of a solution of sugar of the same
strength (one part to 218 of water) sometimes retarded the subsequent
action of meat and of particles of glass, and [page 206] sometimes did
not do so. At one time I felt convinced that morphia acted as a
narcotic on Drosera, but after having found in what a singular manner
immersion in certain non-poisonous salts and acids prevents the
subsequent action of phosphate of ammonia, whereas other solutions have
no such power, my first conviction seems very doubtful.
Extract of Hyoscyamus.—Several leaves were placed, each in thirty
minims of an infusion of 3 grs. of the extract sold by druggists to 1
oz. of water. One of them, after being immersed for 5 hrs. 15 m., was
not inflected, and was then put into a solution (1 gr. to 1 oz.) of
carbonate of ammonia; after 2 hrs. 40 m. it was found considerably
inflected, and the glands much blackened. Four of the leaves, after
being immersed for 2 hrs. 14 m., were placed in 120 minims of a
solution (1 gr. to 20 oz.) of phosphate of ammonia; they had already
become slightly inflected from the hyoscyamus, probably owing to the
presence of some albuminous matter, as formerly explained, but the
inflection immediately increased, and after 1 hr. was strongly
pronounced; so that hyoscyamus does not act as a narcotic or poison.
Poison from the Fang of a Living Adder.—Minute drops were placed on the
glands of many tentacles; these were quickly inflected, just as if
saliva had been given them, Next morning, after 17 hrs. 30 m., all were
beginning to re-expand, and they appeared uninjured.
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