ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF PEPTONE. 537 



is without doubt affected by doses of 01 grm. per kilo and upwards. 

 The influence is not very marked, and is probably less than that on 

 splanchnic blood-vessels other than those of the spleen or kidney. Nor 

 did the effect last long ; as a rule it had begun to disappear within live 

 minutes, and had almost if not wholly disappeared at the end of half an 

 hour. 



In all the foregoing experiments the animals were fully anaesthetised 

 during the whole experiment by means of morphine and atropine 

 administered hypodermically prior to its commencement. Afterwards, 

 when necessary, a mixture of ether and chloroform was emjiloyed to main- 

 tain the anaesthesia. Curare was given when the spinal cord or nerves 

 other than the splanchnics were excited. 



The products employed were furnished to me by Dr. George Griibler, 

 Dresden, and were with few exceptions injected into the external 

 saphenous vein, dissolved in 50 to 60 c.c. of normal saline. 



It will be apparent that a considerable amount of work has yet to be 

 done to make even the part of this research now reported upon complete ; 

 while a large extent of the research has not as yet been carried sufficiently 

 far for publication owing to want of time. When this is finished it is pro- 

 posed to publish the whole, including the present part more fully written, 

 with tracings, tables, and protocols of experiments. 



Fertilisation in PJuvophycece. — Interim Report of the Committee, con- 

 sisting of Prof. J. B. Farmer {Chairman), Prof. R. W. Phillips 

 (Secretary), Prof. F. 0. Bower, and Prot Harvey Gibson. 



The Committee beg to report that the work in contemplation is progress- 

 ing favourably. From its nature, however, it is best pursued in the 

 summer months. They are not, therefore, in a position to make more 

 than an interim report, and beg to apply for a renewal of the grant for 

 another year. 



Preservation of Plants for Exhibition. — Report of the Committee, con- 

 sisting of Dr. D. H. ScoTT (Chairman), Professor Bayley Balfour, 

 Professor Errera, Mr. W. Gardiner, Professor J. R. Green, 

 Professor M. C. Potter, Professor J. W. H. Trail, Professor F. E. 

 Weiss, and Professor J. B. Farmer (Secretary), appointed to report 

 on the best methods of preserving Vegetable Specimens fm^ Exhibition 

 in Museums. 



The Committee since presenting their interim report (see B.A. Report, 

 1896) have continued their inquiries and investigations on the various 

 matters referred to them. The result of these has been largely to confirm 

 the statements already (loc. cit.) presented, to which reference may be 

 made for details. Thus for preserving specimens in a liquid medium 

 alcohol on the whole yields the best results, in spite of its decolourising 

 action. Rapid killing and in some cases special methods of bleaching 

 the specimens before immersion in the alcohol are additional precautions 

 which it is desirable to observe. 



