368 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [NOVEMBER 
In another experiment, where only one series of heavy charges was 
given, the number of organisms decreased from 31,000 to 35 one-half 
hour after treatment; while on the third day the number in the normal 
WaS 29,000,000 against 1,000,000 of the treated. Further experiments 
of a similar nature were made, but in no case were we able to prevent 
the subsequent appearance of organisms. 
The immediate falling-off in the number of bacteria when strong 
and frequent charges from a static machine were employed would 
point to the conclusion that the electrical treatment destroyed the 
bacteria, but what effect it may have had on the spores was not 
determined. The ultimate increase in the number of organisms in 
every case after treatment, where heavy charges were used, is also 
significant, and may be explained on the supposition that strong 
electrical charges did not affect the spores; in other words, the 
immediate falling-off in numbers resulting from excessive stimulation 
may be due to the destruction of the vegetative forms, and those 
which did appear in the agar cultures may have developed entirely 
from spores which were possibly not affected detrimentally by treat- 
ment. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the strong static 
charges might induce a tendency in the organisms to spore formation, 
and the spores, not being affected by the heavy charging, would 
germinate in the agar cultures. 
In the experiment shown in table IX, where a considerable falling- 
off in the number of organisms took place at first, which was 
followed by subsequent increase, there was a long period in the night 
when no stimulation was applied, and spore formation may have 
taken place; but in the experiment shown in table X the period elaps- 
ing between treatments was only one hour, yet the number of bacteria 
in one instance increased very perceptibly; namely, in the positively 
charged culture. On the other hand, if the case is one of inhibition 
or suppression of the vital processes only, we should expect this effect 
to be lost in the period elapsing between plating and the counting of 
the colonies. The possibility of accommodation or adaptation of the 
organisms to intense stimulation is also not out of the question, as 
this frequently occurs. The roots of certain plants, for example, can 
grow and develop in water saturated with poisonous gases if given 
an opportunity to adapt themselves to these extreme conditions, 
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