glands were still much discoloured. Another leaf not included in the
above lot, after an immersion of 3 hrs. 15 m., was carefully examined;
the protoplasm in the cells of the outer tentacles, and of the short
green ones on the disc, had become strongly aggregated down to their
bases; and I distinctly saw that the little masses changed their
positions and shapes rather rapidly; some coalescing and again
separating. I was surprised at this fact, because quinine is said to
arrest all movement in the white corpuscles of the blood; but as,
according to Binz,* this is due to their being no longer supplied with
oxygen by the red corpuscles, any such arrestment of movement could not
be expected in Drosera. That the glands had absorbed some of the salt
was evident from their change of colour; but I at first thought that
the solution might not have travelled down the cells of the tentacles,
where the protoplasm was seen in active movement. This view, however, I
have no doubt, is erroneous, for a leaf which had been immersed for 3
hrs. in the quinine solution was then placed in a little solution of
one part of carbonate of ammonia to 218 of water; and in 30 m. the
glands and the upper cells of the tentacles became intensely black,
with the protoplasm presenting a very unusual appearance; for it
* Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, April 1874, p. 185.
[page 202]
had become aggregated into reticulated dingy-coloured masses, having
rounded and angular interspaces. As I have never seen this effect
produced by the carbonate of ammonia alone, it must be attributed to
the previous action of the quinine. These reticulated masses were
watched for some time, but did not change their forms; so that the
protoplasm no doubt had been killed by the combined action of the two
salts, though exposed to them for only a short time.
Another leaf, after an immersion for 24 hrs. in the quinine solution,
became somewhat flaccid, and the protoplasm in all the cells was
aggregated. Many of the aggregated masses were discoloured, and
presented a granular appearance; they were spherical, or elongated, or
still more commonly consisted of little curved chains of small
globules. None of these masses exhibited the least movement, and no
doubt were all dead.
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