If tentacles with cells containing only very pale pink fluid, and
apparently but little protoplasm, are placed in a few drops of a weak
solution of one part of the carbonate to 4375 of water (1 gr. to 10
oz.), and the highly transparent cells beneath the glands are carefully
observed under a high power, these may be seen first to become slightly
cloudy from the formation of numberless, only just perceptible,
granules, which rapidly grow larger either from coalescence or from
attracting more protoplasm from the surrounding fluid. On one occasion
I chose a singularly pale leaf, and gave it, whilst under the
microscope, a single drop of a stronger solution of one part to 437 of
water; in this case the contents of the cells did not become cloudy,
but after 10 m. minute irregular granules of protoplasm could be
detected, which soon increased into irregular masses and globules of a
greenish or very pale purple tint; but these never formed perfect
spheres, though incessantly changing their shapes and positions.
With moderately red leaves the first effect of a solution of the
carbonate generally is the formation of two or three, or of several,
extremely minute purple spheres which rapidly increase in size. To give
an idea of the rate at which such spheres increase in size, I may
mention that a rather pale purple leaf placed under a slip of glass was
given a drop of a solution of one part to 292 of water, and in 13 m. a
few minute spheres of protoplasm were formed; one of these, after 2
hrs. 30 m., was about two-thirds of the diameter of the cell. After 4
hrs. 25 m. [page 46] it nearly equalled the cell in diameter; and a
second sphere about half as large as the first, together with a few
other minute ones, were formed. After 6 hrs. the fluid in which these
spheres floated was almost colourless. After 8 hrs. 35 m. (always
reckoning from the time when the solution was first added) four new
minute spheres had appeared. Next morning, after 22 hrs., there were,
besides the two large spheres, seven smaller ones, floating in
absolutely colourless fluid, in which some flocculent greenish matter
was suspended.