1915] HARVEY—ETHYLENE 195 
traces of gaseous impurities. LESCHTSCH (22) studied the effect of 
turpentine on protein metabolism in bulbs of Alliwm. An accelera- 
tion of protein synthesis occurs in wounded bulbs, but the process 
is further accelerated by small amounts of turpentine and hindered 
by large amounts. PuRIEwirscH (27) noted that ether interfered 
with the synthesis of starch. To account for this phenomenon 
he assumed an increased rate of respiration, whereby the sugars 
were used up. BuTKEwirTscH (4) reports similar effects for toluol 
and chloroform. Starch in the bark and wood of Morus and 
Sophora was rapidly hydrolyzed. This hydrolysis cannot be 
explained, he thinks, on the supposition of an increased respiration, 
since sugars increase concomitantly with the decrease of starch. 
Also, he points out the analogy between the effects of toluol and 
chloroform and of low temperatures; both may be explained on 
the basis of injury to the plastids. “REINHARD and SUSCHKOFF (29) 
determined the effects of several substances upon starch synthesis. 
Ether seemed to act, not only as a hindrance to starch formation, 
but also as an accelerator of hydrolysis. Antipyrin, morphine, and 
caffein hindered, but urea and asparagin favored starch synthesis. 
Similarly DeLEano (6) observed a rapid destarching of leaves in 
the presence of chloroform, a result apparently contradictory to 
that “sea by Czarek (5). RICHTER (30), working with illu- 
mina gas, laboratory air, xylol, etc., and Grare (8), with 
eile ers have shown that an accumulation of sugar is favored 
by these substances. ARMSTRONG and ARMSTRONG (1) have 
demonstrated that toluol, ether, chloroform, etc., cause an increase 
of glucose and HCN in leaves of Prunus lauro-cerasus, due to a 
rapid splitting of the glucoside present. Hempet (11) has made 
a careful study of the effects of ether on seedlings of Pisum and 
Lupinus with particular regard to the CO, output, and the changes 
in the nitrogen compounds and sugars. Her results show that 
ether effects are dependent upon the concentration. The normal 
destruction of the proteins in germination was retarded by “weak” 
doses (up to approximately o.o1 per cent by volume), but the 
process was accelerated in strong doses. All concentrations inter- 
fered with the inversion of sugars. GRAFE and RICHTER (9) have 
published an article on the effects of acetylene on the chemical 
