On the Action of Ancestlietics on Protoplasm. 213 



*' Observations on the Action of Anaesthetics on Vegetable and 

 Animal Protoplasm." By J. B. FARMER, M.A., and A. D. 

 WALLER, M.D., F.R.S. Received March 9, Read May 5, 

 1898. 



The object in view was to observe simultaneously and compara- 

 tively the effects of certain anaesthetics (carbon dioxide, ether, and 

 chloroform) upon vegetable and upon animal protoplasm. 



Two gas chambers in series, through which anassthetic and other 

 vapours can be passed, contain : the first, a leaf of Elodea Canadensis 

 under the microscope ( X 300) ; the second, a sciatic nerve of Rana 

 temporaries connected with an inductorium and galvanometer (or 

 upon occasion a galvanograph).* 



The actual movements of chlorophyll bodies in a cell of the leaf 

 were observed and measured by one of us, while the other observer 

 took readings of the galvanometric deflections in response to excita- 

 tion of the nerve. To establish comparison between the two classes 

 of effects, we took as measures : the number of chlorophyll bodies 

 that crossed a cobweb in the eye-piece during each successive minute, 

 and the magnitude of galvanometric deflections at intervals of one 

 minute, before, during, and after the action of the vapour. The 

 number of bodies passing per minute gives measure of the rate of 

 movement in the vegetable protoplasm, while the magnitude of succes- 

 sive galvanometric deflections gives measure of the mobility of the 

 animal protoplasm. 



Our results will be most briefly presented by the records of some 

 representative observations. 



Experiment I. 



Chara. Nerve. 



Chloroform vapour, 5 per Permanent abolition of Temporary abolition of 

 cent, for 2 minutes. movement. mobility. 



Experiment II. 



Weak ether vapour for No marked effect. No marked effect. 



10 minutes. 

 Stronger ether vapour for Permanent abolition. Temporary diminution. 



4 minutes. 



* As described in ' Phil. Trans.,' B, vol. 188 (1897), p. 4. 



