Nor did these four leaves, on being left for 24 hrs. in the diluted alcohol, undergo any inflection.  They were then removed; one being placed in an infusion of raw meat, and bits of meat on the discs of the other three, with their stalks in water.  Next day one seemed a little injured, whilst two others showed merely a trace of inflection.  We must, however, bear in mind that immersion for 24 hrs. in water prevents leaves from clasping meat.  Hence alcohol of the above strength is not poisonous, nor does it stimulate the leaves like camphor does.

The vapour of alcohol acts differently.  A plant having three good leaves was left for 25 m. under a receiver holding 19 oz. with sixty minims of alcohol in a watch-glass.  No movement ensued, but some few of the glands were blackened and shrivelled, whilst many became quite pale.  These were scattered over all the leaves in the most irregular manner, reminding me of the manner in which the glands were affected by the vapour of carbonate of ammonia.  Immediately on the removal of the receiver particles of raw meat were placed on many of the glands, those which retained their proper colour being chiefly selected.  But not a single tentacle was inflected during the next 4 hrs.  After the first 2 hrs. the glands on all the tentacles began to dry; and next morning, after 22 hrs., all three leaves appeared almost dead, with their glands dry; the tentacles on one leaf alone being partially inflected.

A second plant was left for only 5 m. with some alcohol in a watch-glass, under a 12-oz. receiver, and particles of meat were then placed on the glands of several tentacles.  After 10 m. some of them began to curve inwards, and after 55 m. nearly all were considerably inflected; but a few did not move.  Some anaesthetic effect is here probable, but by no means certain.  A third plant was also left for 5 m. under the same small vessel, with its whole inner surface wetted with about a dozen drops of alcohol.  Particles of meat were now placed on the glands of several tentacles, some of which first began to move in 25 m.; after 40 m. most of them were somewhat inflected, and after 1 hr. 10 m. almost all were considerably inflected.  From their slow rate of movement there can be no doubt that the glands of these tentacles had been rendered insensible for a time by exposure during 5 m. to the vapour of alcohol.

Vapour of Chloroform.—­The action of this vapour on Drosera is very variable, depending, I suppose, on the constitution or age of the plant, or on some unknown condition.  It sometimes causes the tentacles to move with extraordinary rapidity, and sometimes produces no such effect.  The glands are sometimes [page 218] rendered for a time insensible to the action of raw meat, but sometimes are not thus affected, or in a very slight degree.  A plant recovers from a small dose, but is easily killed by a larger one.

A plant was left for 30 m. under a bell-glass holding 19 fluid oz. (539.6 ml.) with eight drops of chloroform, and before the cover was removed, most of the tentacles became much inflected, though they did not reach the centre.  After the cover was removed, bits of meat were placed on the glands of several of the somewhat incurved tentacles; these glands were found much blackened after 6 hrs. 30 m., but no further movement ensued.  After 24 hrs. the leaves appeared almost dead.