NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
Medical Officers of the Army of India.
however, there is no proof in support of this but the necessities of the theory ;
whereas the phenomenon is capable of serving as direct evidence in support of
the other theory.
It may possibly be objected here that in cases of application of heat to
pinnules there is no evident reason for the occurrence of abnormal loss of fluid
to an extent corresponding to the ensuing phenomena of action, and no such
manifest occurrence of escape of fluid as that taking place in cases of section
in which the exudation of drops of fluid from the cut surfaces can almost
always be readily recognised. The evidence that an abnormal escape of fluid
does occur under the influence of heating of the tissues is, however, clearly
afforded by Table X, in dealing with the details of which a further reference to
this point is made.
The data contained in the next table, No. VIII, of the series are of a nature
which it will be hard for the protoplasmic theory to account for. In them we
find that where no abnormal escape of fluid from the tissues is connected with
the so-called stimulation, there is an almost absolute localisation of movement
to the area directly affected. The only exceptions to the localisation which I
have observed are in certain cases where action of the primary pulvinus is
primarily induced. In such cases a certain degree of subsequent action in
the secondary pulvini or in the pinnules may occasionally be observed to
occur. The occurrence of extension of movement in these cases, as the data
in the next table will show, is, however, no evidence of the occurrence of any
protoplasmic extension of activity, but is, on the contrary, to be accounted for
as the result of obstruction to the normal fluid supply of distal parts connected
with extreme flexion of conducting tissues. Advocates of the protoplasmic
theory may possibly affirm that the extreme localisation of movement in cases
of purely mechanically induced action is the result of a minor degree of stimu-
lation of the tissues in such cases, pure mechanical impulses being less irritant
than ruptures of continuity or thermal agencies. But are we to suppose that
in cases where every pinnule and all the secondary pulvini have acted under
the direct influence of pure mechanical impulse there has been less stimula-
tion than when the tips of one or two distal pinnules alone have been divided
or heated ? According to the protoplasmic theory we must do so, as no exten-
sion of action occurs in one case and extension is the normal phenomenon in
the other. Here, as in all the previous cases, the protoplasmic theory requires
to be supported by the assumption of a hypothetical condition ; whereas the
other theory can point to the presence of an actual one to account for the
phenomenon under consideration.
The data, embodied in Table IX, have been already alluded to in dealing
with those of the previous one. They are those obtained from a series of
experiments which were all conducted on one morning, but the results agree
with those obtained on many other occasions so closely in regard to the
91
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main phenomena that they may, I believe, be regarded as normal. They very
distinctly indicate the existence of a direct relation between the degree of
petiolar depression and the extension of movement. In cases where petiolar
depression was fully carried out, we find that extension of movement was greater
than in cases where petiolar depression was suppressed or obstructed. Now,
it is very hard to see why the degree of petiolar depression should affect the
protoplasmic activity of the tissue, so as to interfere directly with the extension
of stimulation of the protoplasm. It is not as though the failure in petiolar
depression in these cases had been due to failure in action in the primary
pulvinus, for in all these cases the primary pulvinus acted and did its utmost
to secure depression. But on the theory that extension of movement is a matter
of extension of fluctuations in the fluid content of the tissues, we can readily
explain the phenomenon, for in cases where full depression of the petiole is
free to occur there is necessarily extreme flexion of the tissues of the primary
pulvinus, and such flexion must imply obstruction to the onward flow of fluid
from the axis in direct proportion to the degree which it attains. But in cases
in which the abnormal facilities for escape of fluid induced by experimental
interference are approximately alike, as they presumably were in the set of
experiments referred to in the table, the resultant phenomena ought to be in
proportion to the facilities for the supply of fresh fluid to the tissues. In
those cases in which there is obstruction to such renewal of fluid, the extension
of movement ought to be greater than in those where obstruction is absent, or
is present in minor degree, and these are precisely the phenomena which we find
actually presenting themselves to observation. The phenomenon of a certain
degree of action in the secondary pulvini in some cases where action of the
primary pulvinus and petiolar depression have been caused by means of purely
mechanical agencies which are normally followed by purely localised action,
finds its explanation here.
Taking the data in the tables which have now been considered as they
stand, I believe them to show that while the protoplasmic theory requires a
continuous series of assumptions to bring it into accordance with facts, the other
theory derives direct support from them, and that the thesis of the parallelism
of extension of movement with facility for the extension of fluctuation in the
tension of fluid in the tissues is amply supported.
The evidence in favour of the second thesis, that the direction in which
propagation of movement occurs is in many cases that in which the occurrence
of fluctuation in the fluid tension of the tissues can be shown to occur, whilst it
cannot be accounted for as the result of protoplasmic conduction, has next to be
considered. It is principally contained in Tables X and XI, showing the phe-
nomena occurring in cases of the application of heat to the course of axes and
those following section of the tips of axes.
Table X contains details regarding the effects following the application of
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Scientific Memoirs by
such assumption, whilst there are many facts to show that it is quite un-
tenable.
In the first place we have the phenomena presenting themselves in cases,
such as those which are embodied in the earlier tables, of the occurrence of
ready and certain centripetal propagation of movement under the influence of
agencies acting on the terminal portions of leaves. These tables, moreover,
not only demonstrate the facility with which centripetal action occurs, they
also show that, under certain circumstances, it takes place more readily and
fully than centrifugal action. On consulting the statement of results in experi-
ments 21 to 29 of Table IV dealing with the effects following section of the
tips of the central pinnules of pinnæ, it appears that centripetal action, as a
rule, both preceded and was more complete than centrifugal action. The
number of the cases cited is, no doubt, very limited, but the results may cer-
tainly be taken as typical of those occurring under like circumstances, and dis-
tinctly prove that there is no general tendency to centrifugal rather than
centripetal action. If it be now objected that these experiments refer to leaves
and not to axes, and that therefore they cannot be fairly cited as evidence in
regard to phenomena manifesting themselves in the latter, the data in the table
which has next to be dealt with afford a sufficient answer.
This table, No. XI of the series, contains details regarding 38 cases in
which the tips of axes were removed by careful section, and clearly shows that
very extensive centripetal action readily occurs under certain circumstances.
In order, then, to explain the phenomena occurring in cases of the application of
heat to axes, the protoplasmic theory must assume, not merely the presence of
greater centrifugal protoplasmic conductivity, but also that the directional con-
ductivity of the protoplasm is modified according to the nature of the in-
fluence which gives rise to movement, section of pinnules, or of the tips of
axes giving rise to a greater amount of centripetal conductivity than the appli-
cation of heat to axes is capable of doing. Here, again, the facts do not sup-
port the theory, but, on the contrary, necessitate the introduction of unfounded
assumptions to bring them into accordance with it.
It now remains to determine how far the other theory accords better with
the phenomena of excess of centrifugal propagation in cases of heating of axes,
and at the same time of extensive centripetal propagation in cases of terminal
section. There can, I believe, be little doubt that it does so. In dealing with
the axes, we are dealing with a series of conducting channels along which fluid
is constantly passing, the current being kept up due to constant losses of
large amounts of fluid from the leaves and other distal parts and constant
additions of fresh fluid from the roots. If now any abnormal agency give rise
either to obstruction of such channels or to abnormal discharge of fluid from
them at some point in their course, fluctuations in the amount of fluid and,
therefore, fluctuations in the tension in the system of channels must be induced.
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Scientific Memoirs by
pudica is one of exceedingly unstable equilibrium dependent on the opposed
tendencies of different masses of tissue which tend in one case to establish the
nocturnal, in the other the diurnal, position of the various parts. The excessive
instability of the equilibrium is due, first, to the extreme fluid tension on which
it depends, and which is only maintained so long as there is a constant supply of
fresh fluid added to the tissues to make good the constant losses due to exces-
sive transudation, and, second, to the presence of structural differences in the
opposed tissues specially facilitating the occurrence of diminutions in fluid
tension in those which make for the diurnal position. The conditions are such
that very slight fluctuations in fluid tension are necessarily adapted to give
rise to extensive displacements of the various parts of the leaves, so that it
appears doubtful whether it be necessary in any case to assume the occurrence
of any active protoplasmic contraction in order to account for the motorial
phenomena.
CALCUTTA ;
The 14th April 1887.
102
Medical Officers of the Army of India .
103
TABLES.
TABLE I.— General Table of Results of section of Distal Pinnules of
Mimosa pudica.
No. of
Experi -
ment.
Resul t.
1 Slow and irregular action in the other pinnules of the injured distal pinna ; partial
and irregular action in the other distal pinna ; no further result.
2 Spreading action in the injured distal pinna; action in its pulvinus, and immediate
action in the primary pulvinus ; centrifugal action in the pinnules of the proxi-
mal pinna of that side of the leaf ; no further result.
3 Spreading action in the pinnules of the cut distal pinna ; action in the other distal'
pinna ; action in the proximal pinna of the injured side of the leaf ; no further
result ; no action in the secondary pulvini.
4 Spreading action in the pinnules of the injured distal pinna ; action in one
proximal secondary pulvinus ; action in the primary pulvinus'; no further result.
5 Commencing action in the pinnules of the injured distal pinna ; action in the
primary pulvinus ; completed centripetal action in the injured pinna ; partial
action in the other distal pinna and in the proximal pinna of the injured side ;
no further result.
6 Results as in No. 5.
7 Spreading action in the pinnules of the injured distal pinna ; commencing action in
the pinnules of the proximal pinna of the injured side of the leaf ; action in the
primary pulvinus, and commencing action in the opposite distal pinna ; action
of the other proximal pinna; no further result.
8 Results as in No. 7.
9 Partial spread of action along the injured proximal pinna ; action in the primary
pulvinus, and commencing action in the distal pinna of the injured side ; partial
action in the other distal pinna ; no further result.
The above experiments were carried out on various occasions during the rains .
10 Leaf not yet reached by the sunshine.—Very slow and incomplete action in the cut
pinna, the pinnules of the outer third and those quite at the base acting
imperfectly, whilst an intermediate groups of four pinnules on either side
failed to move ; no further result.
Scientific Memoirs by
TABLE 1.— General Table of Results of section of Distal Pinnules of
Mimosa pudica—continued.
No. of
Experi -
ment.
Resul t.
11 Leaf not yet reached by the sunshine .—Very slow and partial action in the pinnules
of the distal half of the pinna, and in one on one side of the middle of the
proximal half ; no further result.
12 Leaf not yet reached by the sunshine ; section involving the tip of the secondary
petiole.—Rapid, progressive action in the pinnules of the cut pinna, followed
by immediate action in the primary pulvinus ; no further result.
13 Leaf and section as in No. 12. — I m m e d i a t e a c t i o n o f a b o u t s i x p a i r s o f d i s t a l p i n -
nules and of the primary pulvinus ; pause ; very slow, progressive action in the
other pinnules of the distal half of the cut pinna ; no further result.
14 Leaf not yet reached by the sunshine; section involving tips of distal pinnules
only.—Very slow and partial action in the pinnules of the distal third of the
cut pinna, and in some pinnules on one side at the base ; no further result.
15 Leaf not yet reached by the sunshine ; section involving the tip of the secondary
petiole.—Imperfect action in all the pinnules of the cut pinna ; no further
result.
16 Leaf in full sunshine ; section involving tips of pinnules only .—Spreading action
in the pinnules of the cut pinna ; action in the primary pulvinus ; complete
action in the pinnules of the other pinnæ ; no further result.
17 Leaf in full sunshine ; section involving tip of secondary petiole .—Action in the
pinnules of the cut pinna; pause ; action in the secondary and primary pul-
vini ; complete action in the remaining pinn ; action in the primary pulvi-
nus of the first leaf above.
18 Leaf and section as in No. 17. — S p r e a d i n g a c t i o n i n t h e p i n n u l e s o f t h e c u t p i n n a ;
action in the primary pulvinus ; complete action in the other pinnæ; no
further result.
19 L Leaf in full sunshine; section involving pinnules only .—Spreading action in the
pinnules of the cut pinnæ; action in the primary pulvinus ; complete action in
the remaining pinnæ; nothing more.
20 Leaf and section as in. No. 17 .—Spreading action in the pinnules of the cut pinna ;
pause ; action in the primary pulvinus ; complete action in the other pinnæ;
no further result.
21 Leaf and section as in No. 17. — S p r e a d i n g a c t i o n i n t h e p i n n u l e s o f t h e c u t p i n n a ;
pause ; action in the primary pulvinus ; complete action in the other pinnæ ;
no further result.
Medical Officers of the Army of India 105
TABLE 1.— General Table of Results of section of Distal Pinnules of
Mimosa pudica —continued.
No. of
Experi -
ment.
Resul t.
22 Leaf in full sunshine; section involving pinnules only.—Spreading action in the
pinnules of the cut pinna ; action in the secondary pulvinus, and commencing
action in the pinnules of the distal pinna of the same side of the leaf ;
action in the primary pulvinus ; complete action in the remaining pinn e ;
action in the primary pulvinus of the next leaf above ; complete action in
three of its pinn, and incomplete action in the fourth one ; no further result.
Experiments 10 to 22 were all conducted at an early hour on one morning, and very
clearly show the effect of protection from, or exposure to, conditions favouring
loss of fluid by evaporation. The morning was that of the 30th December
1886. It was mild and hazy, quite still, and with a drenching dew .
23 Leaf not yet reached by the sunshine ; section involving tips of pinnules only .—
Action in the first two or three pairs of pinnules ; action in the primary pulvi-
nus ; progressive, slow, centripetal action in the pinnules of the cut pinna ;
imperfect action in the pinnules of the other pinna; no further result.
24 Leaf not yet reached by the sunshine; section involving the tip of the secondary
petiole.—Spreading, centripetal action in the pinnules of the cut puma ; action
in the primary pulvinus ; imperfect action in the pinnules of the remaining
pinnæ.
25 Leaf exposed to direct sunshine ; section involving the tips of the pinnules only.—
Complete, spreading action in that leaf and in the leaf next above.
26 Leaf and section as in No. 25 .—Complete, spreading action in that leaf ; no further
result.
27 Leaf and section as in No. 25 .—Complete, spreading action in that leaf, in one
below, and in one above it.
28 Leaf and section as in No. 25.—Complete, spreading action in that leaf and in one
leaf below it.
29 Leaf exposed to direct sunshine ; section involving the tip of the secondary
petiole.—Complete, spreading action in that leaf ; no further result.
30 Section involving the tip of the secondary petiole .—Complete action in the leaf ;
no further results.
31 Section and results as in the previous case.
32 A two-pinnaed leaf ; section involving the tip of the secondary petiole.—Complete,
spreading action in that pinna ; nearly complete action in the other one ; no
further result.
Memoirs
TABLE I.— General Table of Results of section of Distal Pinnules of
Mimosa pudica—continued.
No. of
Experi -
ment.
Resul t.
33 Leaf not yet reached by the sunshine.—Action of two or three pairs of pinnules ;
action in primary pulvinus ; slow, partial, centripetal action in the cut pinna ;
slow, centrifugal action in the rest of the pinnæ; no further result.
34 L Leaf in shade.—Very slow, complete, centripetal action in the cut pinna; action in
the primary pulvinus when the action in the cut pinna had almost reached the
base ; very slow, partial action in the other pinnæ ; no further result.
35
i
Leaf exposed to direct sunshine.—Complete, spreading action in the cut leaf ;
partial action in one beneath ; complete action in the first leaf above ; action
in the primary pulvinus of the third leaf above ; very slow, partial action in its
pinnæ; no further results.
36 Leaf exposed to direct sunshine.—Complete, spreading action in the cut leaf ; no
further result.
37 Leaf exposed to direct sunshine .—Result as in the previous case.
38
Ditto Ditto.
39
Ditto Ditto.
40 Leaf in shade.—Partial action in the cut pinna ; slight action in the primary
pulvinus ; no further result.
41 Leaf in shade.—Action in the distal two-thirds of the cut pinna ; no further
result.
42 Leaf in shade.—Action in the cut pinnules ; action in the primary pulvinus ; slow,
progressive, centripetal action in the pinnules in the distal third of the cut
pinna ; no further result.
43 Leaf in shade.—Slow, progressive, complete action in the cut pinna ; no further
result.
43 Leaf in shade.—Complete, progressive action in the cut pinna ; long pause ;
action in the primary pulvinus ; no further result.
44 Leaf in shade.—Action in the cut pinna ; action in the primary pulvinus, and
extreme depression ; partial action in the remaining pinnæ; no further
result.
45 Leaf in shade.—Action in the cut pinna ; action in the primary pulvinus ; no
further result.
Medical Officers of the Army. of India. 107
TABLE I.—General Table of Results of section of Distal Pinnules of
Mimosa pudica —continued.
No of
Experi -
ment.
Resul t.
46 Leaf exposed to direct sunshine .—Complete, progressive action in the cut pinna ;
action in the primary pulvinus ; complete action in the remaining pinnæ ; no
further result.
47 Leaf exposed to direct sunshine .—Results as in the previous case.
48
Ditto
Ditto,
49
Ditto
Ditto.
50
Ditto
Ditto.
51 Leaf exposed to direct sunshine.—Complete action in the cut pinna ; commencing
action in the other distal pinna ; action in the primary pulvinus ; complete
action in the remaining pinnæ.
52 Leaf in shade.—Partial action in the cut pinna ; full action in the primary pulvi-
nus ; no further result.
53 Leaf exposed to direct sunshine .—Complete action throughout the entire leaf ; no
further result.
54 Leaf in the shade and exposed to rain .—Very slow and partial action in the cut
pinna ; action in the primary pulvinus ; no further result.
55 Conditions as in the previous case .—Results as in the previous case.
56 Conditions as in No. 54. — A c t i o n i n t h e c u t p i n n u l e s ; a c t i o n i n t h e p r i m a r y p u l -
vinus ; long pause ; very slow and partial action in the pinnules of the distal
half of the cut pinna ; no further result.
56 Conditions as in No. 54.—Results as in the previous case.
57 Conditions as in No. 54; tip of one pinnule only cut.—Slow, progressive, well-
developed action in the pinnules in the distal half of the cut side of the pinna ;
very feeble, partial action in a few of the distal pinnules of the opposite side
of the cut pinna ; no further result.
57 Conditions as in the previous case.—Results as in the previous case.
58 Leaf exposed to direct sunshine .—Partial action throughout the entire leaf ; no
further result.
59 Leaf exposed to direct sunshine.—Complete action throughout the entire leaf ; no
further result.
P 2
TABLE I.— General Table of Results of section of Distal Pinnules of
Mimosa pudica—continued.
No. of
Experi- ment.
Resul t.
60 Leaf exposed to direct sunshine .—Complete action throughout the entire leaf ; no
further result.
61
Ditto ditto
ditto.
62 Slow, gradual action of the entire leaf ; no further result.
63 Partial action in all the pinnæ ; no further result.
64 Almost complete action throughout the entire leaf ; no further result.
65 Partial action in all the pinnæ, and action of the primary pulvinus ; no further result.
66 Almost complete action throughout the entire leaf ; no further result.
67 Action in the cut pinnules ; long pause ; action in the primary pulvinus, but
depression of the petiole mechanically prevented ; long pause ; slow, partial,
centripetal action throughout the cut pinna ; no further result.
68 Action in the cut pinnules, and in one or two pairs immediately beneath them ;
long pause ; action in the primary pulvinus ; pause ; centripetal action
throughout the cut pinna ; partial action in the remaining pinnæ; no further
result.
69 Leaf in the shade.—Action in the cut pinnules ; long pause ; action in the primary
pulvinus, but depression of the petiole mechanically obstructed; very slight
action in two or three pairs of pinnules beneath the cut ones ; no further
result.
70 Leaf exposed to direct sunshine .—Partial action throughout the entire leaf save the
proximal pinna of the uncut side ; no further result.
71 Leaf exposed to direct sunshine.—Slow, complete action throughout the entire
leaf ; no further result.
72 Leaf in shade, — S p r e a d i n g , i n c o m p l e t e a c t i o n i n a l l t h e p i n n u l e s o f t h e c u t p i n n a ;
incomplete action in the basal halves of two other pinnæ ; no further result ;
primary pulvinus responded readily to direct impulse.
73 Leaf in shade.—Incomplete action throughout the distal half of the cut pinna ; no
further result.
74 Leaf in shade.—Incomplete action throughout the cut pinna ; no further result.
75 Leaf exposed to direct sunshine.—Complete action in the leaf ; no further result.