part of carbonate of ammonia to 437 of water. After 8 hrs. 30 m. the
quadrifids contained a good many granules, and the primordial utricle
was somewhat shrunk; after 23 hrs. the quadrifids and bifids contained
many spheres of hyaline matter, and in one arm twenty-four such spheres
of moderate size were counted. Two bisected bladders, which had been
previously left for 21 hrs. in the solution of gum (one part to 218 of
water) without being affected, were irrigated with the solution of
carbonate of ammonia; and both had their quadrifids modified in nearly
the same manner as just described, one after only 9 hrs., and the other
after 24 hrs. Two bladders which appeared never to have caught any prey
were punctured and placed in the solution; the quadrifids of one were
examined after 17 hrs., and found slightly opaque; the quadrifids of
the other, examined after 45 hrs., had their primordial utricles more
or less shrunk with thickened yellowish specks, like those due to the
action of nitrate of ammonia. Several uninjured bladders were left in
the same solution, as well as a weaker solution of one part to 1750 of
water, or 1 gr. to 4 oz.; and after two days the quadrifids were more
or less opaque, with their contents finely granular; but whether the
solution had entered by the orifice, or had been absorbed from the
outside, I know not.
Two bisected bladders were irrigated with a solution of one part of
urea to 218 of water; but when this solution was employed, I forgot
that it had been kept for some days in a warm room, and had therefore
probably generated ammonia; anyhow [page 415] the quadrifids were
affected after 21 hrs. as if a solution of carbonate of ammonia had
been used; for the primordial utricle was thickened in specks, which
seemed to graduate into separate granules. Three bisected bladders were
also irrigated with a fresh solution of urea of the same strength;
their quadrifids after 21 hrs. were much less affected than in the
former case; nevertheless, the primordial utricle in some of the arms
was a little shrunk, and in others was divided into two almost
symmetrical sacks.
Three bisected bladders, after being examined, were irrigated with a
putrid and very offensive infusion of raw meat. After 23 hrs. the
quadrifids and bifids in all three specimens abounded with minute,
hyaline, spherical masses; and some of their primordial utricles were a
little shrunk. Three bisected bladders were also irrigated with a fresh
infusion of raw meat; and to my surprise the quadrifids in one of them
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