1918] 
BONNS—ETHERIZATION AND ENZYME ACTIVITY 287 
mid following etherization appears concordant with the find- 
ings of Willaman (’17) with respect to the effect of ether on 
enzymes producing cyanogenesis. The experiments do not 
support the opinion of Johannsen (’97) and do tend to con- 
firm the view of Green (’87) in regard to the conversion of 
zymogen to enzyme as the result of anaesthetic stimulation. 
In the case of germinating barley, etherization has resulted 
either in reduction of the rate of zymogen conversion, or 
possibly in the production of substances having the properties 
of anti-enzymes. No conclusions can properly be deduced 
from a comparison of the results obtained with Gladiolus and 
Hordeum. They must be considered separately, for a factor 
that cannot be neglected is the relation of enzyme response to 
the rest period of the plant. The assumption is warranted 
that at certain stages in the life cycle of plants with regular 
rest periods there will be times of normal maximum and 
minimum enzyme activity, and the results obtained in ether- 
ization experiments will depend upon the application of the 
narcotic at a time properly related to such normal enzyme 
conditions. The use of organs with practically indefinite or 
indeterminate rest periods, such as grain seeds, introduces 
altogether different conditions. In connection with this phase 
of the question a study of the effects upon enzyme action re- 
sulting from etherization at different periods in the annual 
cycle of some plant would prove of much value. 
SUMMARY 
An historical review of the literature of experiments deal- 
ing with the responses of plants to anaesthetics is presented, 
and the several theories of narcosis and of the relation of 
narcotics to enzyme activity are reviewed. 
The methods of experimentation are described. 
Among the experimental results obtained, the following are 
the most definite: 
Enzyme dispersions from etherized corms of Gladiolus were 
distinctly more active upon acetamid than dispersions from 
controls, the ratio of ammonia nitrogen split off from the two 
series being about 12 to 1. No difference was noted in the 
