(1

Southampton May 13 1871. Acetate of Strychnine

Sol. of 1 gr to 1 oz – pea-shoots not in any way affected – leaves closed at night.– Neither these nor those in plain water opened next morning – Tendrils apparently in no way affected

Drosera. sol. of 2 gr. to 1 oz. a very minute drop on single hairs caused some to move in, but some (perhaps old leaves) did not contract.

& Heads of some became blackened.

Sol. of 1 gr. to 1. oz – did not cause any to contract; but one alone when touched by bristle after 1/2 hour, curled in, whilst some others equally touched, which has been strychnined, did not move.

May 15 – Results so fluctuating cannot be trusted – one gland with sol. 1. gr to 1 oz. moved spontaneously – After the application in about 3/4 of Hour one touched with bristle moved greatly – on several others no effect – Putting on meat, after some hours or two, after strychnine, some moved – But results disturbed because several glands with nothing done to them did not move with meat or after rubbing.

[1v]

Perhaps dos not act

1 gr to 1 oz moved with meat after strychn & touch 10'

always leave for 15'

Try inorganic weight on both strychn & water

(2

May 16 Put water on one gland & sol. of Stry (1 gr to 1 oz) on other gland – 2 pairs – In 10' scratched both with needle, that with Strychnine last & only thrice & that with water 4 times & first – The one with water soon moved strongly (N.B the bending is almost or quite confined to near base.) that with strychnine did not move – yet not killed for with atom of dry meat moved quickly & greatly. – Hence Str. seem to prevent transmission of effects of touch, & so acts on nerves!!

In a third trial, both water & strych after 8' or 9' minutes Hairs moved after scratching equally – perhaps did not absorb strychn Perhaps movement may be due to my having brushed with needle the water one stronger than other.

Perhaps much weaker dose of strychn might excite movement, whereas stronger dose paralyses.– The dry grain of strychn may have acted by weight like any other object

/over

[2v]

(After 15' of same sol. of Strych on one Hair & water on 2 Hairs, rubbed all 3 with needles four times – 2 of them were long Hairs (& they seem to require much rougher rubbing) but both with water ultimately moved, whilst the long one with strychnine did not move; nor afterwards with meat – so this case goes for nothing)

Maybe a wave of contraction runs down Hair & if stopped at summit no movement at base from Strychnine

(3

Southampton

Sol. of A. of Strychnine 1. gr to 1 oz.

May 17 put strychnine on 2 gland & water on 2; in 15' rubbed all almost equally the strychnined ones the hardest & oftenest with needle – the 2 watered ones moved immediately – as did one with strychnine which had not moved so much – The other strychnined one did not move, but did move with meat.

For future experiments try sol. of 2 gr. to 1 oz. Also weaker to see if increases power of movement

Again put roughly strychnine, as above on several Hairs on one side of leaf & water on other side & in 15' rubbed both sides. Rather more of the strychnined Hairs moved than of those which had water!!!

[bis 4]

It would be best to try different solutions, by large drop on leaf & thus learn what strength suffices

(4

May 17th Sol. acetate of Strychn 2 gr to 1 oz. (I think this rather too strong, for it blackens glands 1 1/2 gr to oz to be best I think)

4 glands touched with sol. one moved spontaneously possibly, but I think not, touched by pins' head [sketch]

The 3 other did not move, when rubbed by needle after interval of 15'; [whereas] other hairs on left of those to which nothing had been done when rubbed at same time, moved quickly.

The 3 which had strychnine, though 2 of them blackened & dryed by it, were moistened with saliva & had atom of meat placed on them, caused no movement, ie. killed. (No)

2 of the 3 them did ultimately move largely, but with extreme slowness.–

May 18 a lot of glands with sol. of 1 1/2 gr. to oz after 15' I found 5 or 6 had moved inwards greatly!

Repeated experiment, with I believe sol. of same strength on rotten leaf & no spontaneous movement; on rubbing them they moved, but some hairs on opposite side did not move on being rubbed

[4v]

2 gr to 1 oz = 1/2 to 1/2 oz

{∴ 1 oz of solution & 1/2 of water will make sol. of 1 1/2 gr. to the oz. Q.E.D}

2 gr. to 1 oz = 1/2 to 1/4 oz of water

∴ 3/4 of oz of water will contain 3 half grams of Strychn

add 1/4 of water & there will be solution of 1 1/2 gr of stry to 1 oz of water