1918] 
BONNS—ETHERIZATION AND ENZYME ACTIVITY 235 
conelusion was reached that anaestheties among other vapors 
are without effect on photosynthetie action of leaf cells with 
respect to transpiration. 
EFFECT ON RESPIRATION AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS 
The study of the respiratory function as influenced by 
anaesthetic action has been a subject of inquiry since the days 
of Bernard. Gayon (’77) reported complete inhibition of res- 
piration (‘‘fermentation intracellulaire’’) of fruits by ether 
and chloroform. Schwarz (’81) reported that the presence 
of these substances in water effected a cessation of oxygen 
evolution and carbon dioxide assimilation іп Elodea and 
Ceratophyllum without subsequent recovery. This opposed 
Bernard’s conclusions (’78) that chloroform inhibited assimi- 
lation while respiration continued. Bonnier and Mangin 
(’86), using their method of gas analysis, were able to show 
that with the use of a measured amount of ether carefully 
added, carbon dioxide assimilation was checked without af- 
fecting respiration, thus confirming Bernard and opposing 
Schwarz. 
Pringsheim (’87), in a study of assimilation and respira- 
tion of chlorophyllous plants, using the bacterium method, 
found that ether and chloroform inhibited assimilation, that 
such action was accompanied by death of the cells, and that 
the chlorophyll apparatus was changed. 
Laurén (’91) studied the effect of ether on the respiration 
of various seedlings, and determined both aérobic and 
anaérobie respiration. Different plants gave varying re- 
sponse. The normal respiration of Ricinus and Lupinus was 
increased; of Pisum, Phaseolus, and Cucumis increased to a 
maximum with a certain per cent concentration, and decreased 
with higher ones. Brassica, Hordeum, and Zea were unaf- 
feeted by weak dosages and inhibited by stronger ones. 'The 
anaérobie respiration of Lupinus and Pisum was increased, 
while this was not noted in Ricinus, Zea, and Hordeum. No 
explanation was offered for these differences, but attention 
was called to the fact that seedlings rich in carbohydrates 
