  We argue that the recent experiments of Kelly et. al.(Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.
Engl. 36, 1866 (1997)) on molecular ratchets, in addition to being in agreement
with the second law of thermodynamics, is a test of the principle of detailed
balance for the ratchet. We suggest new experiments, using an asymmetric
ratchet, to further test the principle. We also point out methods involving a
time variation of the temperature to to give it a directional motion.
