15 



The action of alcohol on the circulation resembles that of 

 opium. Similar observations have also been made on other 

 plants: these will chiefly be found in a Dissertation by Schii- 

 bler and Zeller*. 



M. Becquerel f has performed a series of interesting experi- 

 ments with the view of discovering the nature of the force which 

 causes these circulating currents of the sap in the cells of 

 the Charce. M. Amici and many others regarded this activity 

 as one similar to the galvanic power, produced by the piles 

 of green globules with which the inner surface of these cavi- 

 ties is lined. The discharge of small piles through Chares 

 twisted in a spiral form produced no change in their circulation; 

 whence the conclusion \vas drawn, that the motion in the 

 Charce is not caused by electricity, but by some other force, 

 with whose nature we are as yet entirely unacquainted. On 

 the other hand, the observations on the effect of continued 

 currents on the circulation in the Chavez lead to other interest- 

 ing results. The passage of electricity causes at first a torpid- 

 ity of the motion, which adapts itself entirely to the strength 

 of the charge, and acts at the same time on both currents, 

 i. e. on the ascending and descending. When the pile has 

 been rendered by a certain number of plates so strong that its 

 action immediately stops the circulation, this, after a short in- 

 terval, recommences under the influence of the electric cur- 

 rent, and returns to all its former activity. If we double the 

 number of pairs of plates, the circulation again stands still, 

 and this may be continued in such a manner that by the ac- 

 tion of a powerful pile the circulation will stop for several 

 hours. By a gradual removal of the plates the circulation re- 

 turns so much the quicker ; however no disorganization is 

 caused by the passage of an electric current. Thus then the 

 action of electricity on the circulation of the sap in the Char 

 coincides with that of heat, excepting that no acceleration 

 was caused by the electricity, which is observed under the ac- 

 tion of heat ; however, I am inclined to think that this is only 

 indirect, as the vegetation of the plant is hereby raised in in- 



Ueber die Einwirkung verschiedener Stoffe auf die Vegetation, &c. 

 Tubingen. 1826. 



f Influence de 1'electricite sur la circulation du Chara. Comptes Ren- 

 dus, 1837, p. 784. 



