1150 Stoward.—Amyloclastic Secretory Capacities of the 
VI. The Behaviour of the Inner Endosperm Tissue towards 
Anaesthetic Reagents : the Probable Non-possession of 
Vitality by this Tissue. 
The views regarding the possession of vitality by the inner endosperm 
of barley are diametrically opposed. 
Brown and Morris (loc. cit, Part I, p. 8co) claim that this tissue 
consists of non-living cells ; Hansteen, and also Puriewitsch, contends that 
each amyliferous cell in the endosperm of the Gramineae is to be regarded 
as a living functionary unit. Bruschi (loc. cit.) states that the cells situated 
at the extreme periphery of the inner endosperm, and immediately subjacent 
to the aleurone layer, are probably living units. 
Hansteen and Puriewitsch s claim rests, as we have seen, on an inad¬ 
missible method of proof. Bruschi’s statement rests on a sounder basis, 
namely, cytological examination of the nuclei of the more peripherally 
situated amyliferous cells and the application of plasmolytic tests. 
Evidence derived from a study of the respiratory capacity of this 
tissue (Stoward, loc. cit., Part I, p. 821) does not permit of the clear definition 
of this function being due solely to either vital or enzymatic activity. 
When an undoubtedly living organism, organ, or tissue is subjected to 
the action of an anaesthetic reagent for a sufficient length of time, ultimate 
annihilation of its functions ensues. 
Experimental evidence has already been adduced showing that when 
isolated embryos and aleurone layers are anaesthetized, and the action of 
the anaesthetic is prolonged, the amyloclastic secretory function of the 
embryo is totally suppressed, and the same function of the aleurone layer 
never attains its original level—the appearance of enzyme in the external 
substratum in this latter case being attributed to the passive outward 
diffusion of pre-existent enzyme in the tissue, and to that formed during 
the progress of anaesthesia. 
Demonstration of the manifestation of enzymatic activity by a given tissue 
furnishes, it is true, no criterion of the possession of vitality by the tissue. 
The question assumes another aspect, however, in the case about to be 
treated, where the points to be discussed refer to the behaviour of the 
embryo, aleurone layer, endosperm, and inner endosperm, when exposed to 
the continued action of certain anaesthetic reagents. We have seen that 
the effect of anaesthesia on the aleurone layer is distinctly to diminish and 
lower its secretory capacity. Suppose endosperms and inner endosperms 
are similarly anaesthetized , and that it is found, after cultivation on gelatine 
medium and subsequent investigation of the medium and objects for 
amylase, that the amount of enzyme found in the case of anaesthetized 
endosperms is distinctly lower than that found in similarly constituted 
culture experiments with unanaesthetized endosperms, while the amount 
