EFFECT OF EIGHTEEN NORMAL ALIPHATIC ALCOHOLS ON GROWTH OF LUPINUS ALBUS

Comparative pharmacology and toxicology of various alcohols have been the subject of investigation on the part of many writers. Most of the work on this subject, however, has been confined to the first five members of the aliphatic series, namely, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, and amyl alcohols and almost entirely to the primary alcohols in cases where several chemical isomers are known. The more important literature on the subject is quoted in a paper by one of the writers, which deals with the relative toxicity of some aliphatic alcohols with especial reference to their isomers (I920). In that investigation it was found that the first five members of the aliphatic series increase in toxicity with their molecular weight and also that the secondary are less toxic than the primary alcohols for animal tissues and whole animals. Practically all pharmacological work with alcohols has hitherto been of a zoopharmacological nature; that is, studied on animal organisms. The effects of alcohols on living plants have been but little investigated. The present writers have made a comparative study of the pharmacology and toxicology of a long series of primary aliphatic alcohols on both zo6pharmacological and phytopharmacological test objects. A brief account of the results obtained with plants is presented herewith.