No. 1, August, 1920] PHYSIOLOGY 131 



ORGANISM AS A WHOLE 



933. Child, C. M. A study of susceptibility in some Puget Sound algae. Publ. Puget 

 Sound Biol. Sta. 2: 249-267. 1919. — About 19 algae were used in the experimental work. 

 These were tested from the standpoint of axial susceptibility, in respect to a few toxic agents. 

 In all these the most actively growing regions were the most susceptibile to the poisons used. 

 While differences in the permeability of the outer portions of cells may account for differences 

 in susceptibility to certain poisons, they cannot account for all, since neutral red and certain 

 other vital dyes probably kill from within the cell. — In Ptilota pectinata the differences in 

 susceptibility of the different apical regions and axes enable one to picture the relative 

 physiological conditions in the different parts, and make it possible to interpret to some 

 extent the growth form in physiological terms. Apparently the inhibiting influence of a more 

 actively growing tip is effective through a greater distance in the plant, than that of a less 

 active tip. This is shown by the presence of alternate branching in the more active tips, and 

 opposite branching in the less active ones. Thus activity and branch arrangement are corre- 

 lated. — Experiments with a species of filamentous diatom, whose filaments are composed of 

 bundle of gelatinous tubes in which are growing a Navicula type of diatom, show that this a 

 pseudothallus is also most susceptible at the tips. Therefore either physiological correlation 

 must exist between the tips and the other parts as in ordinary plants; or else growth and divi- 

 sion are gradually inhibited by the gelatinous envelope, so that the individual diatoms at 

 the tips of the pseudothallus are most active because they are in the most favorable situations. 

 The pseudothallus reacts like a plant rather than like a colony. — T. C. Frye. 



934. Gail, Floyd W. Hydrogen ion concentration and other factors affecting the distri- 

 bution of Fucus. Publ. Puget Sound Biol. Sta. 2 : 287-306. 1919. — The hydrogen ion concen- 

 tration of the sea water is an important factor in distribution. The most favorable P H is 

 8.0-8.2. At P H 8.8 all growth ceases except the germination of oospores. Likewise in sea- 

 water of P H 6.6 (and lower exponents) growth is insignificant or wanting, except in young 

 plants, especially in temperatures above 17°C. Temperature is therefore another determin- 

 ing factor. Of the ranges tried, the lowest, 10.5° to 13°C. was the most favorable. When 

 the temperature was permitted to rise to 30°C. for a part of the time, the growth was almost 

 or wholly stopped. In the presence of much Ulva the P H of the surrounding water is raised 

 too high for Fucus. In tide pools the extremes of both temperature and P H are too great. 

 Both desiccation and light are also important factors. — T. C. Frye. 



935. Garner, W. W., and H. A. Allard. Effect of the relative length of day and night 

 and other factors of the environment on growth and reproduction in plants. Jour. Agric. Res. 

 18:553-605. PL 64-79. 35 fig. 1920.— See Bot. Absts. 5, Entry 22. 



936. Harris, J. E. G. Contributions to the biochemistry of pathogenic anaerobes. VIII. 

 The biochemical comparison of micro-organisms by quantitative methods. Jour. Path, and 

 Bact. 23: 30-49. Fig. 1-2. 1919. — A comparison was made from strictly quantitative data, 

 (1) of the proteolytic and sugar-splitting properties of two anaerobes, Bacillus sporogenes 

 and the Reading bacillus, and (2) the oxygen concentrations which permit or inhibit growth 

 of these organisms. The two organisms are morphologically, and in cultural reactions, closely 

 related. — Experimental methods are described for carrying out a comparison of the reactions of 

 these organisms. Details are given of the apparatus used for fermentation experiments and 

 of the methods for obtaining values for gas production, ammonia and amino-acid formation, 

 production of volatile acids, and changes in hydrogen ion concentration and sugar content. — 

 A simple method is described for determining the degree of oxygen toleration of organisms 

 for routine purposes. It is suggested that results should be expressed in the form of the "aero- 

 bic index," which is defined. — The results are given in terms of fermentations of 5 different 

 media and of determinations of the aerobic indices both of spores and young organisms on 

 liquid and solid media. — From the results it is concluded that these two organisms are of the 

 same race, but show small differences possibly acquired, In their biochemical behaviour 



