196 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [September 



composition of several kinds of seeds and shoots. They found 

 that the sugars and amino acids increased in tissues which were 

 naturally high in carbohydrate (Vicia, Laburnum, and potato 

 shoots), while in fatty tissue (seeds of squash, mustard, and flax) 

 there was a slight decrease. Also, acetylene caused an increase 

 in the amount of glycerine and fatty acid in the seeds, resulting in a 

 decrease in the amount of fat. Like results were obtained for illu- 

 minating gas. They conclude that the condensation processes alone 

 are affected. However, it seems quite possible that anaesthetics 

 sometimes also hasten the hydrolyzing processes. This is further 

 indicated by the recent work of McCool (24). in which he claims 

 that the acceleration of enzymatic activity (of diastase and oxidase) 

 takes place during etherization, although the activity of catalase 

 is depressed. 



A preliminary examination of the results referred to above shows 

 a number of inconsistencies; but Grafe and Richter have well 

 pointed out that these inconsistencies are probably not real. Most 

 of them become clear when the effect of anaesthetics, with regard 

 to the general chemical reactions of plants, is expressed as follows: 

 that the condensation processes are favored by "weak" and hin- 

 dered by "strong" concentrations; but that the effect on the hydro- 

 lyzing process is uncertain. 



The literature dealing with the effects of anaesthetics on respira- 

 tion processes uncovers about the same general situation as stated 

 above, since weak doses seem to accelerate and strong doses to 

 retard respiration. This statement is borne out by the results of 

 Elfving (7), Johannsen (15), Morkowin (23), Lauren (21), and 

 others. However, Morkowin considers that the respiration of 

 carbohydrates cannot be accelerated by ether; that such is possible 

 only with nitrogenous substances. Also Lauren found that 

 whether or not respiration could be accelerated by ether depended 

 upon the kind of plant used. Respiration was accelerated in 

 proportion to the dose in Ricinus and Lupiiius; slightly accelerated 

 in limited doses, later depressive, in Piston, Phaseolus, and Cucur- 

 bita; and there was no acceleration in Brassica, Hordeum, and Zea. 

 Irving (12) has shown that for chloroform the effect depended upon 

 the dose. Small doses increased the C0 2 releasal; medium doses 



