106 



GERMINATION 



The connections are shown in Figure 80. 



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-Oliver 



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To test in air, i.e., with the bell jar removed, both switches 

 were put over to contacts a, a, while to " earth " the object 

 under examination it was only necessary to move both 

 switch levers to contacts &, h. The shunt enabled the fuU 

 deflection to be calculated when it was thought desirable 

 to do so. 



There was, from time to time, a good deal of trouble with 

 this more or less makeshift apparatus. The pump did not 

 give a very effective vacuum unless it was kept going and the 

 mercury gauge did not register, so that, unfortunately, I am 

 not able to give the number of inches of vacuum. 



It, however, yielded some extremely interesting results 

 but before describing them it will be as well to go into the 

 object with which the experiments were carried out, their 

 bearing upon electro-physiological research, and their 

 possible biological significance. 



In my view, the currents observed from animal and 

 vegetable skins, from mucous membranes and excised 

 muscle and nerve, as well as from vegetables and fruits 

 taken from their natural environment, are due to air charge ; 

 that is to say, they are charged by an external source or 

 vehicle of energy which may be air of normal sign and 

 potential, or air with its sign and potential altered by energy 

 emanating from animal bodies. 



Dr. Waller,* however, is of different opinion. To make 

 quite sure of that opinion I shall have to quote him at some 

 length : 



*Signs of Life. 



