Effect of Desiccation of Albumin upon its Coagulability, 329 



10. During tetanisation of moderate strength and of whatever 

 direction the normal current becomes positive (or less negative). This 

 positive change gradually subsides. 



1 1 . Strong single induction shocks of whatever direction arouse pro- 

 longed positive after-effects, that gradually subside. 



12. Single condenser discharges (2 to 10 M.F., 1 to 7 volts), of what- 

 ever direction, arouse prolonged positive after-effects. 



13. In consequence of gentle massage of the eyeball, the normal 

 current becomes strongly positive (or less negative). This positive 

 change gradually subsides. 



14. In consequence, of gentle massage of the eyeball, the positive 

 response of the 1st stage gives place to a negative response (vide 

 supra, 5). 



15. Fatigue — i.e., diminution of response by reason of previous 

 activity — is less pronounced in the case of the retina than in that of 

 muscle. It is manifested in nearly the same degree to stimulation by 

 light, and to stimulation by tetanising currents. 



16. The positive response to light (2), the positive effect of tetanisa- 

 tion (10), and the" positive after-effect of condenser discharges (13) are 

 suppressed by anaesthetics (ether and chloroform) and by rise of 

 temperature (to 40 — 45°). The suppression may be permanent or 

 temporary. An anaesthetised like a dead eyeball tested by currents, 

 as in 11 and 12, manifests only polarisation currents negative in 

 direction to the exciting currents. Tetanisation, as in 10, gives only 

 polarisation effect in the direction of the break shocks negative to the 

 direction of the make shocks. 



IV. Conclusions. 



" Observations on the Effect of Desiccation of Albumin upon its 

 Coagulability." By J. Bretland Farmer, M.A., Eoyal College 

 of Science, London. Communicated by Dr. H, T. Brown, 

 F.RS. Pteceived March 21,— Eead April 5, 1900, 



It has been known for some time that it is possible, under certain 

 circumstances, to expose seeds to the influence of high temperatures 

 without thereby necessarily destroying their power to germinate. 

 Some experiments in this direction were conducted at the Eoyal 

 Gardens, Kew, some years ago by Dr. Morris, but the results, although 

 of much interest, do not appear to have been published. However, 

 the seeds were exposed to the action of boiling water, and even to a 

 higher temperature in an oven, without losing their ability to germinate 

 when the ordeal was over. 



It has been noticed, in heating seeds in water, that if the seed-coat 



