It seems opposed to the rule of the preponderant influence of the base that the nitrate of lithium causes moderately rapid inflection, whereas the acetate causes none; but this metal is closely allied to sodium [page 188] and potassium,* which act so differently; therefore we might expect that its action would be intermediate.  We see, also, that caesium causes inflection, and rubidium does not; and these two metals are allied to sodium and potassium.  Most of the earthy salts are inoperative.  Two salts of calcium, four of magnesium, two of barium, and two of strontium, did not cause any inflection, and thus follow the rule of the preponderant power of the base.  Of three salts of aluminium, one did not act, a second showed a trace of action, and the third acted slowly and doubtfully, so that their effects are nearly alike.

Of the salts and acids of ordinary metals, seventeen were tried, and only four, namely those of zinc, lead, manganese, and cobalt, failed to cause inflection.  The salts of cadmium, tin, antimony, and iron, act slowly; and the three latter seem more or less poisonous.  The salts of silver, mercury, gold, copper, nickel, and platinum, chromic and arsenious acids, cause great inflection with extreme quickness, and are deadly poisons.  It is surprising, judging from animals, that lead and barium should not be poisonous.  Most of the poisonous salts make the glands black, but chloride of platinum made them very pale.  I shall have occasion, in the next chapter, to add a few remarks on the different effects of phosphate of ammonia on leaves previously immersed in various solutions.

Acids.

I will first give, as in the case of the salts, a list of the twenty-four acids which were tried, divided into two series, according as they cause or do not cause

* Miller’s ‘Elements of Chemistry,’ 3rd edit. pp. 337, 448. [page 189] inflection.  After describing the experiments, a few concluding remarks will be added.

Acids, much diluted, which cause inflection.

1.  Nitric, strong inflection; poisonous. 2.  Hydrochloric, moderate and slow inflection; not poisonous. 3.  Hydriodic, strong inflection; poisonous. 4.  Iodic, strong inflection; poisonous. 5.  Sulphuric, strong inflection; somewhat poisonous. 6.  Phosphoric, strong inflection; poisonous. 7.  Boracic; moderate and rather slow inflection; not poisonous. 8.  Formic, very slight inflection; not poisonous. 9.  Acetic, strong and rapid inflection; poisonous. 10.  Propionic, strong but not very rapid inflection; poisonous. 11.  Oleic, quick inflection; very poisonous. 12.  Carbolic, very slow inflection; poisonous. 13.  Lactic, slow and moderate inflection; poisonous. 14.  Oxalic, moderately quick inflection; very poisonous. 15.  Malic, very slow but considerable inflection; not poisonous. 16.  Benzoic, rapid inflection; very poisonous. 17.  Succinic, moderately quick inflection:  moderately poisonous. 18.  Hippuric, rather slow inflection; poisonous. 19.  Hydrocyanic, rather rapid inflection; very poisonous.