A Method of Demonstrating the Presence of Uric Acid in the Contractile Vacuoles of some Lower Organisms

Abstract

After some years of patient observation and research, I have found, from direct experiment, that at certain times the contractile or pulsating vacuole of the Protozoa performs the function of a true kidney, or, in other words, its secretion is capable of yielding microscopic crystals of uric acid.Three organisms were used in these experiments, namely:- Amœba, Vorticella, and Paramœcium.