176 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXrV. No. 867 



tion of carbon dioxide in, and providing 

 its regular elimination from, the blood; 

 for it is the respiratory stimulant (Yan- 

 dall Henderson). Other factors involved 

 are temperature and moisture. The anes- 

 thetics are carried into the system at body 

 temperature. This may be and is being 

 accomplished by warming, and, in the case 

 of ether and anesthetic chloroform, by 

 passing the vapor through heated water, 

 which, at body temperature, not only re- 

 moves the oxidation products, but satu- 

 rates the gas with moisture (Gwathmey 

 method) . The osmotic action of the alveo- 

 lar cells is thus affected only to the extent 

 of the densities of the gases introduced 

 into the lungs, and not, as normally is the 

 case, by temperature (always lower) and 

 desiccation as well. In other words, by 

 the application of the principles of mod- 

 ern physical chemistry, the numerous 

 variables are so reduced as to secure the 

 real physiological effect of the particular 

 anesthetic drug after it enters the system. 

 Nitrous oxide and oxygen may be used for 

 prolonged anesthesia and successfully for 

 eighty per cent, of surgical cases ; further- 

 more, ether and chloroform may be used 

 with equal safety. The real, and nc sup- 

 posititious, idiosyncrasy of the patient 

 may be met. The expert anesthetist may 

 now not only make it possible for the sur- 

 geon to perform even greater miracles, but 

 with more comfort to himself in his work, 

 and with greater happiness and less dis- 

 comfort to the patient. 



Chakles Baskervillje 

 College of the City op New York 



GYRUS GUERNSEY PRINGLE 

 In 1882 I had the pleasure of accompanying 

 Dr. C. C. Parry and C. G. Pringle on a botan- 

 ical expedition into Lower California. At 

 this time Mr. Pringle was engaged in forming 

 the Jesup collection of American woods for the 



American Museum of Natural History, and 

 this was his first trip into Mexican territory, 

 as it was my first. 



The personal instruction given me at this 

 time, and many following favors in after 

 years, cemented our friendship. Previous to 

 this time Mr. Pringle was principally known 

 as the originator of the snowflake potato, and 

 of new varieties of wheat and oats, and his 

 labors in this field have added many millions 

 to the profits of the American farmer. To 

 him Luther Burbank owes the first training 

 that he received in originating new varieties 

 of plants, and many others could no doubt 

 testify to the helpfulness of the man, ever 

 above the petty jealousies that beset some 

 lives. 



The next twenty years passed without my 

 again meeting the man in person, when we 

 met in Mexico City, and I journeyed with him 

 into many fields of botanical interest — ^the 

 lava fields near that city, and to the grand 

 barrancas near Guadalajara — replete with dis- 

 coveries which render his name inseparable 

 from the annals of American botany. 



Mr. Pringle carried consideration for others 

 almost to an extreme (were this truly pos- 

 sible), and I have seen him select the heavier 

 burden and give his peon servant the lighter 

 one to carry. 



In asking for data concerning his life I 

 received the following reply : " I decided that 

 it was hardly possible for me to comply with 

 your request. It would be too painful to 

 write my autobiography. Shyness has become 

 habitual with me. Besides my aversion to 

 publicity, I am too busy to write much. All 

 my thought and labor goes to the building of 

 a great and superior herbarium." 



His choice of a monument is the herbarium 

 of the University of Vermont, which bears his 

 name. His death from pneumonia, on May 

 26, 1911, aged seventy-three years, was an- 

 nounced in the daily press. 



A rich man — who has created millions — not 

 for himself, but for his fellow man. 



C. E. Oecutt 



