[Vor. 5 
240 ANNALS OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 
Haas (717) has recently made an investigation of the effect 
of various anaesthetics, including ether and chloroform, upon 
the respiration of Laminaria. The change in amount of 
carbon dioxide evolved was noted in terms of the change in 
hydrogen ion concentration of the solution in which the fronds 
were immersed, using indicators and buffer solutions of known 
hydrogen ion concentration as standards. He found that ex- 
posure to anaesthetics in concentrations sufficient to produce 
any effect resulted in increased respiration; a decrease be- 
low the normal amount followed this in cases where the con- 
centration of the narcotic was sufficiently toxic, but no such 
decrease was noted with non-toxic concentrations. 
EFFECT ON PERMEABILITY 
We come now to a consideration of work tending to throw 
light on the initial means whereby anaesthetics effect their 
action on plants,—namely, the relation of anaesthesial agents 
to cell permeability. It is evident that the question of the 
theory of anaesthesia and the relations of narcotics to cell 
conditions affecting enzyme action must bear a close relation 
to this factor. The work of Overton, to be discussed later, 
may also be classed as studies in cell permeability. 
Wachter (’05*), in a quantitative study of the exosmosis 
of reducing and non-reducing sugars in Alliwm Cepa and 
Beta vulgaris in relation to the inhibitory effect of various 
agents on such osmotic action, found varying effects of ether 
solutions on subsequent plasmolytic action after a previous 
treatment with other agents, a concentration of 2 per cent 
being definitely lethal. Herzog and Horth (’07) subjected 
yeast in an evacuated desiccator to vapors of chloroform, 
ether, alcohol, etc., and noted a rapid liquefaction varying in 
rapidity with the vapor used. The liquefaction was most 
rapid with the water-soluble substances, with a descending 
scale of action to those insoluble in water. The liquefaction 
was explained as a coagulation of proteins in the cell by the 
respective vapors, with consequent extrusion of the protein 
solvents. The rapidity of action, which was the point espe- 
cially noted, depended of course upon the permeability of 
