ia 
effect of caffeine, extracted from the seeds of Coffea arabica Linn., 
upon the auricular and ventricular muscle of the heart was deter- 
mined. An experimental study of the possibility of a physio- 
logical antagonism between the plant alkaloids, caffeine and nico- 
tine, as indicated by their combined effect upon the animal organ- 
ism, was undertaken. 
REPORT OF THE CURATOR OF PUBLIC 
INSTRUCTION FOR 1934 
Dr. C. Stuart GAGER, DIRECTOR: 
Str: T submit herewith my report for the year ending December 
31, 1934. 
GARDEN ATTENDANCE 
Grounds.—-As recorded by the turnstiles at the five entrance 
gates, total attendance at the Garden during 1934 was 1,352,407, 
as against 1,315,847 for 1933, 
This is an increase of 36,560, or 
nearly three per cent. 
A comparison of the table of attendance 
(p. 73) with that of other years brings to light several interesting 
points. For example, the small attendance for the month of 
February (46,663), doubtless due to the fact that this was an 
extremely cold month, was the smallest for this month since 1927 
(43,579). But the figures for the months of August, September, 
October, and November are the largest for each of those months 
in the history of the Garden. The total for these four months 
was 452,696, or nearly one-half million people, as against 358,924 
for 1933. The combined attendance at classes and lectures was 
139,370, as against 126,934 for 1933, and 128,982 for 1932. 
Conservatories —In the total number of visitors to the con- 
servatories during the year, 134,252, the all-time high record of 
last year (139,544) is nearly equalled. One figure deserves 
especial notice—the attendance during the month of April— 
30,262—which means an average of over 1,000 visitors a day. 
This considerably exceeds the record greenhouse attendance 
made in April, 1933—29,062. Evidently Chaucer’s statement, 
“Than (7.e. in April) longen folk to goon on pilgrimages” is as 
true today as it was at approximately 1400 A.D., and an objec- 
tive of many a Brooklyn pilgrimage in April is the Conservatory 
of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. 
