The Project Gutenberg eBook of Response in the Living and Non-Living
Title: Response in the Living and Non-Living
Author: Jagadis Chandra Bose
Release date: August 3, 2006 [eBook #18986]
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Bryan Ness, Laura Wisewell and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Transcriber’s note: Four likely printer errors have been corrected; these are on pages 46, 115, 176 and 186, marked like this. The inconsistent hyphenation of “break-down”, “electro-motive” and “vibration-head” is as in the original. Some of the illustrations had to be moved up or down a few paragraphs from their position in the original; the hyperlinked page numbers in the List of Illustrations point to the original locations, but the hyperlinked figure numbers point to where the figures are now.
RESPONSE IN THE LIVING
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
| PAGE | |
Mechanical response—Different kinds of stimuli—Myograph—Characteristics of response-curve: period, amplitude, form—Modification of response-curves | 1 | |
CHAPTER II
| ||
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
| ||
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
| ||
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
| ||
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
| ||
Diphasic variation—Positive after-effect and positive response—Radial E.M. variation | 44 | |
CHAPTER VII
| ||
Increased response with increasing stimulus—Apparent diminution of response with excessively strong stimulus | 51 | |
CHAPTER VIII
| ||
Effect of very low temperature—Influence of high temperature—Determination of death-point—Increased response as after-effect of temperature variation—Death of plant and abolition of response by the action of steam | 59 | |
CHAPTER IX
| ||
Effect of anæsthetics, a test of vital character of response—Effect of chloroform—Effect of chloral—Effect of formalin—Method in which response is unaffected by variation of resistance—Advantage of block method—Effect of dose | 71 | |
CHAPTER X
| ||
Is response found in inorganic substances?—Experiment on tin, block method—Anomalies of existing terminology—Response by method of depression—Response by method of exaltation | 81 | |
CHAPTER XI
| ||
Conditions of obtaining quantitative measurements—Modification of the block method—Vibration cell—Application of stimulus—Graduation of the intensity of stimulus—Considerations showing that electric response is due to molecular disturbance—Test experiment—Molecular voltaic cell | 91 | |
CHAPTER XII
| ||
Preparation of wire—Effect of single stimulus | 100 | |
CHAPTER XIII
| ||
Effects of molecular inertia—Prolongation of period of recovery by overstrain—Molecular model—Reduction of molecular sluggishness attended by quickened recovery and heightened response—Effect of temperature—Modification of latent period and period of recovery by the action of chemical reagents—Diphasic variation | 104 | |
CHAPTER XIV
| ||
Fatigue in metals—Fatigue under continuous stimulation—Staircase effect—Reversed responses due to molecular modification in nerve and in metal, and their transformation into normal after continuous stimulation—Increased response after continuous stimulation | 118 | |
CHAPTER XV
| ||
Relation between stimulus and response—Magnetic analogue—Increase of response with increasing stimulus—Threshold of response—Superposition of stimuli—Hysteresis | 131 | |
CHAPTER XVI
| ||
Action of chemical reagents—Action of stimulants on metals—Action of depressants on metals—Effect of ‘poisons’ on metals—Opposite effect of large and small doses | 139 | |
CHAPTER XVII
| ||
Visual impulse: (1) chemical theory; (2) electrical theory—Retinal currents—Normal response positive—Inorganic response under stimulus of light—Typical experiment on the electrical effect induced by light | 148 | |
CHAPTER XVIII
| ||
Effect of temperature—Effect of increasing length of exposure—Relation between intensity of light and magnitude of response—After-oscillation—Abnormal effects: (1) preliminary negative twitch; (2) reversal of response; (3) transient positive twitch on cessation of light; (4) decline and reversal—Résumé | 158 | |
CHAPTER XIX
| ||
Effect of light of short duration—After-oscillation—Positive and negative after-images—Binocular alternation of vision—Period of alternation modified by physical condition—After-images and their revival—Unconscious visual impression. | 170 | |
CHAPTER XX
| 181 | |
INDEX | 193 |
ILLUSTRATIONS
| FIG. | PAGE | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mechanical Lever Recorder | 3 |
| 2. | Electric Method of Detecting Nerve Response | 6 |
| 3. | Diagram showing Injured End of Nerve Corresponds to Copper in a Voltaic Element | 8 |
| 4. | Electric Recorder | 11 |
| 5. | Simultaneous Record of Mechanical and Electrical Responses | 13 |
| 6. | Negative Variation in Plants | 19 |
| 7. | Photographic Record of Negative Variation in Plants | 20 |
| 8. | Response Recorder | 21 |
| 9. | The Compensator | 22 |
| 10. | The Spring-tapper | 23 |
| 11. | The Torsional Vibrator | 24 |
| 12. | Response in Plant to Mechanical Tap or Vibration | 25 |
| 13. | Influence of Suddenness on the Efficiency of Stimulus | 26 |
| 14. | The Method of Block | 28 |
| 15. | Response in Plant completely Immersed under Water | 29 |
| 16. | Uniform Responses in Plant | 36 |
| 17. | Fusion of Effect under Rapidly Succeeding Stimuli in Muscle and in Plant | 36 |
| 18. | Additive Effect of Singly Ineffective Stimuli on Plant | 37 |
| 19. | ‘Staircase Effect’ in Plant | 37 |
| 20. | Appearance of Fatigue in Plant under Shortened Period of Rest | 39 |
| 21. | Fatigue in Celery | 40 |
| 22. | Fatigue in Cauliflower-stalk | 41 |
| 23. | Fatigue from Previous Overstrain | 41 |
| 24. | Fatigue under Continuous Stimulation in Celery | 42 |
| 25. | Effect of Rest in Removal of Fatigue in Plant | 43 |
| 26. | Diphasic Variation in Plant | 46 |
| 27, 28. | Abnormal Positive Responses in Stale Plant transformed into Normal Negative Under Strong Stimulation | 48, 49 |
| 29. | Radial E.M. Variation | 50 |
| 30. | Curves showing the Relation between Intensity of Stimulus and Response in Muscle and Nerve | 52 |
| 31. | Increasing Responses to Increasing Stimuli (Taps) in Plants | 52 |
| 32. | Increasing Responses to Increasing Vibrational Stimuli in Plants | 53 |
| 33. | Responses to Increasing Stimuli in Fresh and Stale Specimens of Plants | 54 |
| 34. | Apparent Diminution of Response caused by Fatigue under Strong Stimulation | 57 |
| 35. | Diminution of Response in Eucharis Lily at Low Temperature | 61 |
| 36. | Records showing the Difference in the Effects of Low Temperature on Ivy, Holly, and Eucharis Lily | 62 |
| 37. | Plant Chamber for Studying the Effect of Temperature and Anæsthetics | 64 |
| 38. | Effect of High Temperature on Plant Response | 64 |
| 39. | After-effect on the Response due to Temperature Variation | 66 |
| 40. | Records of Responses in Eucharis Lily during Rise and Fall of Temperature | 67 |
| 41. | Curve showing Variation of Sensitiveness during a Cycle of Temperature Variation | 68 |
| 42. | Record of Effect of Steam in Abolition of Response at Death of Plant | 69 |
| 43. | Effect of Chloroform on Nerve Response | 72 |
| 44. | Effect of Chloroform on the Responses of Carrot | 74 |
| 45. | Action of Chloral Hydrate on Plant Responses | 75 |
| 46. | Action of Formalin on Radish | 75 |
| 47. | Action of Sodium Hydrate in Abolishing the Response in Plant | 78 |
| 48. | Stimulating Action of Poison in Small Doses in Plants | 79 |
| 49. | The Poisonous Effect of Stronger Dose of KOH | 79 |
| 50. | Block Method for obtaining Response in Tin | 83 |
| 51. | Response To Mechanical Stimulation in a Zn-Cu Couple | 85 |
| 52. | Electric Response in Metal by the Method of Relative Depression (Negative Variation) | 88 |
| 53. | Method of Relative Exaltation | 89 |
| 54. | Various Cases of Positive and Negative Variation | 90 |
| 55. | Modifications of the Block Method for Exhibiting Electric Response in Metals | 93 |
| 56. | Equal and Opposite Responses given by Two Ends of the Wire | 95 |
| 57. | Top View of the Vibration Cell | 96 |
| 58. | Influence of Annealing in the Enhancement of Response in Metals | 101 |
| 59. | Uniform Electric Responses in Metals | 102 |
| 60. | Persistence of After-effect | 105 |
| 61. | Prolongation of Period of Recovery after Overstrain | 106 |
| 62. | Molecular Model | 107 |
| 63, 64. | Effects of Removal of Molecular Sluggishness in Quickened Recovery and Heightened Response in Metals | 109, 110 |
| 65. | Effect of Temperature on Response in Metals | 111 |
| 66. | Diphasic Variation in Metals | 113 |
| 67. | Negative, Diphasic, and Positive Resultant Response in Metals | 115 |
| 68. | Continuous Transformation from Negative to Positive through Intermediate Diphasic Response | 116 |
| 69. | Fatigue in Muscle | 118 |
| 70. | Fatigue in Platinum | 118 |
| 71. | Fatigue in Tin | 119 |
| 72. | Appearance of Fatigue due to Shortening the Period of Recovery | 120 |
| 73. | Fatigue in Metal under Continuous Stimulation | 121 |
| 74. | ‘Staircase’ Response in Muscle and in Metal | 122 |
| 75. | Abnormal Response in Nerve converted into Normal under Continued Stimulation | 124 |
| 76, 77. | Abnormal Response in Tin and Platinum converted into Normal under Continued Stimulation | 125 |
| 78. | Gradual Transition from Abnormal to Normal Response in Platinum | 126 |
| 79. | Increase of Response in Nerve after Continuous Stimulation | 127 |
| 80, 81. | Response in Tin and Platinum Enhanced after Continuous Stimulation | 127, 128 |
| 82. | Magnetic Analogue | 132 |
| 83, 84. | Records of Responses to Increasing Stimuli in Tin | 134, 135 |
| 85. | Ineffective Stimulus becoming Effective by Superposition | 135 |
| 86. | Incomplete and Complete Fusion of Effects | 136 |
| 87. | Cyclic Curve for Maximum Effects showing Hysteresis | 137 |
| 88. | Action of Poison in Abolishing Response in Nerve | 139 |
| 89. | Action of Stimulant on Tin | 141 |
| 90. | Action of Stimulant on Platinum | 142 |
| 91. | Depressing Effect of KBr on Tin | 143 |
| 92. | Abolition of Response in Metals by ‘Poison’ | 143 |
| 93. | ‘Molecular Arrest’ by the Action of ‘Poison’ | 145 |
| 94. | Opposite Effects of Small and Large Doses on the Response in Metals | 146 |
| 95. | Retinal Response to Light | 150 |
| 96. | Response of Sensitive Cell to Light | 152 |
| 97. | Typical Experiment on the E.M. Variation Produced by Light | 154 |
| 98. | Modification of the Photo-sensitive Cell | 155 |
| 99. | Responses in Frog’s Retina | 156 |
| 100. | Responses in Sensitive Photo-cell | 157 |
| 101. | Effect of Temperature on the Response to Light Stimulus | 159 |
| 102. | Effect of Duration of Exposure on the Response | 159 |
| 103. | Responses of Sensitive Cell to Increasing Intensities of Light | 161 |
| 104. | Relation between the Intensity of Light And Magnitude of Response | 162 |
| 105. | After-oscillation | 163 |
| 106. | Transient Positive Increase of Response in the Frog’s Retina on the Cessation of Light | 164 |
| 107. | Transient Positive Increase of Response in the Sensitive Cell | 165 |
| 108. | Decline under the Continuous Action of Light | 166 |
| 109. | Certain After-effects of Light | 168 |
| 110. | After-effect of Light of Short Duration | 172 |
| 111. | Stereoscopic Design for the Exhibition of Binocular Alternation of Vision | 176 |
| 112. | Uniform Responses in Nerve, Plant, and Metal | 184 |
| 113. | Fatigue in Muscle, Plant, and Metal | 185 |
| 114. | ‘Staircase’ Effect in Muscle, Plant, and Metal | 186 |
| 115. | Increase of Response after Continuous Stimulation in Nerve and Metal | 186 |
| 116. | Modified Abnormal Response in Nerve and Metal Transformed into Normal Response after Continuous Stimulation | 187 |
| 117. | Action of the same ‘Poison’ in the Abolition of Response in Nerve, Plant, and Metal | 189 |