Response in the Living and Non-Living   By: Jagadis Chandra Bose (1858-1937)

AND NON LIVING

BY JAGADIS CHUNDER BOSE, M.A.(CANTAB.), D.Sc.(LOND.) PROFESSOR, PRESIDENCY COLLEGE, CALCUTTA

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON NEW YORK AND BOMBAY 1902

All rights reserved

'The real is one: wise men call it variously' RIG VEDA

To my Countrymen This Work is Dedicated

PREFACE

I have in the present work put in a connected and a more complete form results, some of which have been published in the following Papers:

'De la Généralité des Phénomènes Moléculaires produits par l'Electricité sur la matière Inorganique et sur la matière Vivante.' ( Travaux du Congrès International de Physique. Paris, 1900.)

'On the Similarity of Effect of Electrical Stimulus on Inorganic and Living Substances.' ( Report, Bradford Meeting British Association, 1900. Electrician. )

'Response of Inorganic Matter to Stimulus.' (Friday Evening Discourse, Royal Institution, May 1901.)

'On Electric Response of Inorganic Substances. Preliminary Notice.' (Royal Society, June 1901.)

'On Electric Response of Ordinary Plants under Mechanical Stimulus.' ( Journal Linnean Society , 1902.)

'Sur la Réponse Electrique dans les Métaux, les Tissus Animaux et Végétaux.' (Société de Physique, Paris, 1902.)

'On the Electro Motive Wave accompanying Mechanical Disturbance in Metals in contact with Electrolyte.' ( Proceedings Royal Society , vol. 70.)

'On the Strain Theory of Vision and of Photographic Action.' ( Journal Royal Photographic Society , vol. xxvi.)

These investigations were commenced in India, and I take this opportunity to express my grateful acknowledgments to the Managers of the Royal Institution, for the facilities offered me to complete them at the Davy Faraday Laboratory.

J. C. BOSE.

DAVY FARADAY LABORATORY, ROYAL INSTITUTION, LONDON: May 1902.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

THE MECHANICAL RESPONSE OF LIVING SUBSTANCES PAGE Mechanical response Different kinds of stimuli Myograph Characteristics of response curve: period, amplitude, form Modification of response curves 1

CHAPTER II

ELECTRIC RESPONSE

Conditions for obtaining electric response Method of injury Current of injury Injured end, cuproid: uninjured, zincoid Current of response in nerve from more excited to less excited Difficulties of present nomenclature Electric recorder Two types of response, positive and negative Universal applicability of electric mode of response Electric response a measure of physiological activity Electric response in plants 5

CHAPTER III

ELECTRIC RESPONSE IN PLANTS METHOD OF NEGATIVE VARIATION

Negative variation Response recorder Photographic recorder Compensator Means of graduating intensity of stimulus Spring tapper and torsional vibrator Intensity of stimulus dependent on amplitude of vibration Effectiveness of stimulus dependent on rapidity also 17

CHAPTER IV

ELECTRIC RESPONSE IN PLANTS BLOCK METHOD

Method of block Advantages of block method Plant response a physiological phenomenon Abolition of response by anæsthetics and poisons Abolition of response when plant is killed by hot water 27

CHAPTER V

PLANT RESPONSE ON THE EFFECTS OF SINGLE STIMULUS AND OF SUPERPOSED STIMULI

Effect of single stimulus Superposition of stimuli Additive effect Staircase effect Fatigue No fatigue when sufficient interval between stimuli Apparent fatigue when stimulation frequency is increased Fatigue under continuous stimulation 35

CHAPTER VI

PLANT RESPONSE ON DIPHASIC VARIATION