320 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXIX. No. 738 



of the tissue. When the condition is sub-tonic, 

 response is by the abnormal positive, instead of 

 the normal negative, reaction. A strong or long- 

 continued application of stimulus, hovpever, con- 

 verts this abnormal positive into normal negative. 



Another important phenomenon is that for 

 which the name of muUvple response has been sug- 

 gested. When the stimulus is very strong, the 

 response is often not single, but repeated, or mul- 

 tiple. Excess of stimulus is thus seen to remain 

 latent in the tissue, for rhythmic expression later. 

 This storage of energy from the environment may 

 in some cases be so great as to cause the continu- 

 ance of rhythmic activity, even in the absence of 

 immediate stimulation. We thus obtain a natural 

 transition into so-called spontaneous or autono- 

 mous movements. 



The various peculiarities of the spontaneous 

 movements exhibited by Desmodium gyrans, or the 

 telegraph plant, may be studied in the automatic 

 record taken by the optical lever. The rhythmic 

 tissues of the plant are then found to have char- 

 acteristics which correspond to those of similar tis- 

 sues in the animal. Lowering of temperature en- 

 hances the amplitude and diminishes the frequency 

 of pulsation, in the rhythmic cardiac tissue of the 

 animal. The same is found to be true of the pulsa- 

 tory activity of Desmodium gyrans. The effects of 

 various drugs are also very similar. The first re- 

 sult of the application of an anaesthetic like ether 

 is to evoke a transient exaltation, followed by de- 

 pression and arrest. Poisonous gases also induce 

 a continuous depression of activity. A strong 

 poisonous solution, again, induces a rapid arrest 

 of pulsation. 



It has thus been shown that by the waxing and 

 waning of response, the variations in the plant's 

 physiological activity, under changing external 

 conditions, may be gauged. It has been shown 

 also how numerous and varied are the factors that 

 go to make up the complexity of plant-responses. 

 It has been shown that stimulus may be modified 

 in its effect, according as it is direct or indirect, 

 and feeble, moderate or strong. The modifying 

 influence of the tonic condition of the tissue has 

 also been shown, according as this is normal, sub- 

 tonic or fatigued. In the numberless permuta- 

 tions and combinations of these varied factors lies 

 the infinite complexity of the responsive phe- 

 njmena of life. 



After a discussion of Professor Bose's paper 

 by Doctors Rusby, Richards and Pond, the meet- 

 ing of the club was adjourned to the second Tues- 

 day in January. 



Marshall A. Howe, 

 Secretary pro tern. 



THE ASSOCIATION OF OHIO TEACHERS OP MATHE- 

 MATICS AND SCIENCE 



The association held its annual meeting in the 

 Chemical Laboratory of the Ohio State University, 

 December 29 and 30, 1908. The attendance of all 

 meetings was very gratifying. The following pro- 

 gram was carried out: 



TUESDAY, DECEMBEE 29, 1908, 1:30 P.M. 



General Session 



Business. 



Mathematics Section 



"The Mathematical Club in the High School; 

 its Use as a Supplement to the Work of the 

 Recitation," by J. C. Boldt, department of mathe- 

 matics. East High School, Dayton. 



" On the Nature of Mathematical Knowledge," 

 by F. E. Miller, professor of mathematics, Otter- 

 bein University. 



Round table. 



Science Section 



" Physics as a Factor in Forming Character," 

 by C. M. Brunson, department of physics. Central 

 High School, Toledo. 



"The Narrow Path or the Broad?" by H. E. 

 Newman, department of chemistry. Walnut Hills 

 High School, Cincinnati. 



Round table. 



WEDNESDAY, DEOEMBEB 30, 9:00 A.M. 



General Session 



Business. 



" The Purification of Drinking Water," by C. 

 W. Foulk, department of chemistry, Ohio State 

 University. 



Mathematics Section 



" Should Mathematics be Taught as a Basal 

 Science or a Tool of Science t " by Paul Bieford, 

 professor of mathematics and astronomy, Buchtel 

 College, Akron. 



" Should the Seventh to Tenth Grades be a Unit 

 in Mathematics ? " by R. L. Short, department of 

 mathematics. Technical High School, Cleveland. 



Round table. 



Science Section 



" An Apparatus for Demonstrating Wave Mo- 

 tion," by Fred J. Hillig, professor of physics, 

 St. John's College, Toledo. 



Experiments and demonstrations. 



Roxmd table. 



WEDNESDAY, DECEMBEB 30, 1:30 P.M. 



Excursion to filtration plant now operated by 

 the city of Columbus. Ralph W. Buck, 



Secretary 

 D.VYTON, Ohio 



