RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1874]. 3h 30 filtered camphor water (and other water experiments) / Proof sheet of Expression. CUL-DAR57.75-83. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Text prepared and edited by John van Wyhe. 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 volumes CUL-DAR 54-61 contain material for Darwin's book Insectivorous plants (1875).


75

9th June

   9. 3' 30"    filtered camphor water

Jun 9th    3

9th 30' ie after 5'    Brushed 2 of leaves once

9. 11' ie after 6' decided inflection in one leaf — 9. 12 marginals & ring

9. 11' 30' aft 6' 30" Some in others: 9. 12' 30" plain aft 7' 30" plain on other

9. 15' some inflection in untouched leaf

9' 16    considerable in    do

75v

76

(June 9th. 74)    3

9. 2'    Water

9. 8'    brushed 3 or 4 time

9. 16'    ,O;

Water

76v

77

(2

Camp spirit Camphorated spirit

June 9th    8O 30'    2 leaves in diluted    (see label—) filtered

   8 37' Brushed smaller leaf

   8O 47' [-] 30 [=] 17 big leaf beginning to bend (not much different in the 2 leaves)

      8O 56' [-] 30 [=] 26 both completely shut. —    It is clear that former exper. with camph. spirit was merely too weak.—

 

  9th    8O 32'    3 leaves in filtered plain sol. of camphor

      after 5' immersion Brushed middle leaf twice

      8O 40'    considerable inflection; none in other 2 leaves

      ― 41    all but 3 or 4 inflected     do.    do

8O 42' Brushed large leaf

― 44' very considerable inflection 2' beginning, in 3' almost completely shut ✔

   45' almost all inflected — cd see then move through lens

   46 — Many ones excpt 2 or 3 injured ones much inflected

8O 47' [-] 32 [=] 15 the little leaf now beginning to inflect (8O 49' a good deal    8O 56' completely shut

49 [-] 32 [=]    56 [-] 32 [=] 24

77v

78

4

June 10

   9. 18'

3 large leaves last put in at this time    middle foot-stalk middle time

middle footstalk immersed for 3' washed for 15" (2 leaves) & put in fresh water & brushed once

in 2' inflection    in 3' very considerable; after 6' grandly

Considerable inflection in 2d leaf in about same time after similar treatment

   99. 27 the 2 Brushed leaves grandly inflected)

Th third leaf 9. 27'    not yet inflected

―       9. 29'    a trace of inflection at one place

         9. 32'    grandly inflected

29 [-] 18 [=] 11

78v

79

5

June 11    8O 57' 15"    2 leaves

after 4' took out one old & large leaf & washed & waved for 15" & then brushed it at 9. 2'

   9. 4' 30" some inflection — ie 2' 30' — in 3' well marked.

   ― 5' well marked —    O in other specimen    (extreme marginals too old to bend)

   9. 9' other spec. not moved — 9. 12 no action; (after 15' no action

   9. 12; 15"— I brushed the spec whilst still in camphor

   9. 16' 30" 15" — this second spc. splendidly inflected    in 4' splendid action.

79v

80

6

June 11'— 9. 16'    2 other rather pale leaves in Camphor    after immersion of 4' 30'

   9. 20'—30"    brushed after washing

   ― 22O—30"    trace of inflection (2' trace)

   ― 23'—30"    quit plain infl (no trace in other specimen) 3' quit plain

      24' 30"    strong marked infl (— O in other spec)

9.. 27' 30"    O in other spec.

9' 32' 30'    O  

   9. 33' I then Brushed once the camphor leaf which had been in camphor since 9. 16' ie for 17' & was unaffected

   at 9. 40'    O    very pale leaf (this experiment a failure)

      ― 43', O    failure from brushing    do

      10 7'    O          do

      10 32'    O— ie aft 1h I now Brushed it twice or thrice again

      10 41 [-] 32 [=] 9 ie aft 9' a few inflected, about 6 or 8

80v

81

(7

56 [-] 48 [=] 8

   Other leaf 10 55' 30' trace of inflection

      ― 57' 1 tent on one side & 8 or 9 on other side

      11O hardy increased — great contrast between the 2 spec

      11O 8' not increased — 11O 35 not increased

      considerable contrast between 2 leaves

      11O 45 no change

 

Explain reason why I washed & then placed in pure water because I the.

81v

82

(8

June 11th    11O 5'    (Dish 2d water)

2 small & red leaves in Camphor for 4' & then put in water & brushed once (without any washing)

at 11O 9' 15" put both in water & brushed one with longer stalk

   11O 9' 15" brushed leaf with longer stalk (rather old)

   11O 11' 30" some action — 2' 30" some action

   ― 12'    decided plain       3' plain.    4 ' decided.

   ― 13    decided — none in other leaf

      15    moderately plain

   11O 55'    no increase (the 2 leaves a plain difference)

   11O 15 a trace in other non-brushed leaf

   11O 35'    no increase in inflection

   11O 45'    no change in either specimen

82v

83

(9

June 11th.    8O 48'    1874

2 little plants with 4 leaves (lower one old & poor) under Tumbler holding —10 fluid oz—

with 3 little bits of Camphor about as much as a filbert together in size. —

(9. 3' O)

(Camphor Vapour)  

   9. 16' 20' O

   9. 28' O

   9. 35' O    except perhaps over pedicel ???

      9. 40' O

      10 18' O

      10 23' O

      11O 20' O

      11 43' O

      2O 30' O

      4O — O

      6 37 O — secretion seemed increased, not acid

      ―    put on meat on 2 leaves

aft 10O    53 [-] 37 [=] 16

      9. 53' meat no action ie after 3O 15'

(June 12th. 7O 45' Slight inflection over meat in both leaves viz a few marginal in each case on one side )

83v


Return to homepage

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

File last updated 30 November, 2025