244 LETTER-FILES OF S. W. JOHNSON 



That is an interesting tale, too, which you tell of Prof. Nor- 

 ton 's excitement from oatmeal. I had never thought of the 

 possibility of such human excitation. Tons of the stuff have I 

 eaten — and, as you well know, milder mannered man did never 

 cut a throat; albeit a "drop" of coffee or of tea will most 

 surely keep me awake for hours at night. But then you know 

 how Ninon — as Dr. Holmes narrates — told of her being intoxi- 

 cated by a beefsteak once — during convalescence. Sincerely 

 yours, F. H. Storer. 



One thing to be tried would be to see if horses are excited 

 by cooked oats. Is Armsby so situated that he could try this 

 exp. ? It would be of value to verify Sanson's "electrical" 

 tests, anyway. 



Perhaps Sanson tried the effect of heat on his avenin ? 



I am afar from books, as I write, but I remain as usual 



Thine— 



(S. W. J. TO S. P.) 



Nov. 4—1890. 



My dear Parsons, — Some months ago I had it on my mind to 

 write you that I was going to come down to Gotham with my 

 friend Olcott, and talk grass. Olcott has been working on 

 that subject for some years, and is on the track of some very 

 positive improvements in that line, we think here. You are 

 situated very favorably to aid in developing and publishing 

 his plans and results and I knew would appreciate his good 

 points better than any one I know. 



Well I didn't get so far as to write or go, and for good 

 reasons, viz. — too much to do. In the meantime Olcott — who 

 is enterprising — has interviewed you, and hopes to get oppor- 

 tunity to show his faith by his works under your eye and 

 auspices. I told him last week that tomorrow — weather being 

 favorable — I would join him on an outing to Central Park, 

 and try with him to see you for a few minutes. 



This Station is assisting him and being assisted by him, and 

 we are very desirous to add to our experimental plots, prom- 



