196 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [SEPTEMBER 
composition of several kinds of seeds and shoots. They found 
that the sugars and amino acids increased in tissues which were 
naturally high in carbohydrate (Vicia, Laburnum, and potato 
shoots), while in fatty tissue (seeds of squash, mustard, and flax) 
there was a slight decrease. Also, acetylene caused an increase 
in the amount of glycerine and fatty acid in the seeds, resulting in a 
decrease in the amount of fat. Like results were obtained for illu- 
minating gas. They conclude that the condensation processes alone 
are affected. However, it seems quite possible that anaesthetics 
sometimes also hasten the hydrolyzing processes. This is further 
indicated by the recent work of McCoot (24), in which he claims 
that the acceleration of enzymatic activity (of diastase and oxidase) 
takes place during etherization, although the activity of catalase 
is depressed. 
A preliminary examination of the results referred to above shows 
a number of inconsistencies; but GRAFE and RIcHTER have well 
pointed out that these inconsistencies are probably not real. Most 
of them become clear when the effect of anaesthetics, with regard 
to the general chemical reactions of plants, is expressed as follows: 
that the condensation processes are favored by “‘weak”’ and hin- 
dered by ‘“‘strong” concentrations; but that the effect on the hydro- 
lyzing process is uncertain. 
The literature dealing with the effects of anaesthetics on respira- 
tion processes uncovers about the same general situation as stated 
above, since weak doses seem to accelerate and strong doses to 
retard respiration. This statement is borne out by the results of 
ELFVING (7), JOHANNSEN (15), MoRKOWIN (23), LAUREN (21), and 
others. However, Morkow1n considers that the respiration of 
carbohydrates cannot be accelerated by ether; that such is possible 
only with nitrogenous substances. Also LAuREN found that 
whether or not respiration could be accelerated by ether depended 
upon the kind of plant used. Respiration was accelerated in 
proportion to the dose in Ricinus and Lupinus; slightly accelerated 
in limited doses, later depressive, in Pisum, Phaseolus, and Cucur- 
bita; and there was no acceleration in Brassica, Hordeum, and Zea. 
IRVING (12) has shown that for chloroform the effect depended upon 
the dose. Small doses increased the CO, releasal; medium doses 
