RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1880. [Earthworm research notes]. CUL-DAR64.1.64. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe 7.2025. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR64.1 contains material for Earthworms, experiments on worms; different locales & photographs and cuttings from journals. All of the textual items in these folders, including this one, have been transcribed in a single file: CUL-DAR63-65.
Nov 17 80
I have tried a large number of leaves dragged naturally into holes — some tried separately — some by washing several in wetted glass & no alkali (or acid) secretion, on best paper.- Yet as juice deposit starch must be of [3 words illeg] or pancreatic, Paper in acid so freely [illeg] from decaying leaves [illeg] any alkali in juice when first [illeg]
Saliva alkali? Foster says (p. 183) in a healthy [subject] its [reaction] is alkaline; especially when secretion abundant. As juice of
worm so some kills protoplasm & dissolves starch to a [2 words illeg] parasitic, especially as salivary gland do not appear (Claparède) to have been clearly made out
p. 185 Foster the action of saliva on starch found by a slightly alkali medium, but will go on do not go or even in presence of much quantity of as acid.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 8 July, 2025