22 REPORT— 1879. 



markable observations on cell divisions in Spirogyra, was obliged to adopt 

 an artificial device in order to compel tbe Spirogyra to postpone the 

 division of its cells to tbe morning. 



Here tbe functions of assimilation and growtb devolve on one and tbe 

 same cell, but wbile one of tbese functions is exercised only during tbe 

 day, tbe time for tbe otber is tbe nigbt. It seems impossible for tbe 

 same cell at tbe same time to exercise botb functions, and tbese are bere 

 accordingly divided between different periods of tbe twenty-four bours. 



Tbe action of chloropbyll in bringing about tbe decomposition of 

 carbonic acid is not, as was recently believed, absolutely confined to plants. 

 In some of tbe lower animals, sucb as Stentor and otber infusoria, tbe 

 Green Hydra, and certain green planarias and otber worms, cbloropbyll is 

 differentiated in their protoplasm, and probably always acts bere under 

 tbe influence of ligbt exactly as in plants. 



Indeed, it bas been proved 10 by some recent researches of Mr. Geddes, 

 tbat the green planarias when placed in water and exposed to the sun- 

 light give out bubbles of gas which contain from 44 to 55 per cent, of 

 oxygen. Mr. Geddes has further shown tbat these animals contain 

 granules of starch in their tissues, and in this fact we have another 

 striking point of resemblance between them and plants. 



A similar approximation of the two organic kingdoms has been shown 

 by tbe beautiful researches of Mr. Darwin — confirmed and extended by 

 bis son, Mr. Francis Darwin — on Drosera and other so-called carnivorous 

 plants. These researches, as is now well known, have shown that in all 

 carnivorous plants there is a mechanism fitted for the capture of living 

 prey, and that the animal matter of the prey is absorbed by the plant 

 after having been digested by a secretion which acts like the gastric 

 juice of animals. 



Again, Nageli bas recently shown 11 that the cell of tbe yeast fungus 

 contains about 2 per cent, of peptine, a substance hitherto known only as 

 a product of tbe digestion of azotised matter by animals. 



Indeed, all recent research has been bringing out in a more and more 

 decisive manner the fact that there is no dualism in life, — that the life of 

 the animal and the life of the plant are, like their protoplasm, in all 

 essential points identical. 



But there is, perhaps, nothing which shows more strikingly the 

 identity of the protoplasm in plants and animals, and the absence of any 

 deep-pervading difference between the life of the animal and that of the 

 plant, than the fact that plants may be placed, just like animals, under 

 the influence of anesthetics. 



"When tbe vapour of chloroform or of ether is inhaled by the human 

 subject, it passes into the lungs, where it is absorbed by the blood, and 



10 ' Sur la fonction de la chlorophyll dans les planaires vertes.' Comities Eendm, 

 December 1878. 



11 Ufiber die ehemische Zvsamrnengetzwng der Hefe. Sitzungsbericht der Math. Phys. 

 Classe der k.k. Ahad. der Wissens. zu Munchen. 1878. 



