NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
130
Scientific Memoirs by
TABLE X.—Results. Application of. Heat to the axes of Mimosa pudica
No. of
Experi-
ment.
Result.
33 Application as in No. 29, the points of the forceps almost touching the pulvinus of
the leaf next below.— Slow action in first two leaves above; no action below.
34 Application as in No. 29. —Very long pause ; action in the primary pulvinus of leaf
next above ; very long pause ; commencing action in the pinnæ of the first
leaf, and action in primary pulvinus of the next leaf above ; pause ; action in
the pinna of the second leaf ; no action below.
35 Application as in No. 29. —Long pause ; action of leaf next above ; very long pause ;
action in terminal leaf of axis separated by six internodes from the previous
leaf ; action in the leaf below the terminal one ; pause ; action in leaf above that
one which acted first; no further action.
36 Application as in No. 29. —Pause ; action in leaf next above ; short pause ; action in
leaf next below ; very long pause ; action in primary pulvinus of second leaf
above site of application ; long pause ; action in its pinnæ ; no further result.
37 Forceps. very. strongly heated. —Almost. immediate action in leaf next below ; long
pause ; action in primary pulvinus of first leaf above ; pause ; progressive, cen-
trifugal action in its pinnæ ; very long pause ; action of the third leaf above
the site of application ; partial and slow action in pinnæ of the second leaf
above the site of application ; no further result.
38 Application as in.No. 29. —Action in leaf next above; action in leaf next below ; ac-
tion of the second leaf beneath that (the.intermediate leaf was at a rooted node);
action in the first leaf of the axillary shoot of the leaf above the point of appli-
cation ; no action in the second leaf above, which was situated at a rooted
node.
39 Application as in No. 29.—Action in all the leaves above the point of application ;
no action below.
40 Application as in No. 29. —Action in fourteen leaves on axis and shoots above, the
primary pulvini alone acting in the more distal ones ; no action below.
4 1
Application immediately above the inferior leaf. —Slow, progressive, centrifugal
action in the primary pulvini of all the leaves above ; the secondary pulvini and
pinnules only acted in some cases, and in these after long intervals ; no action
below.
42 In this experiment the flame of a wax match was applied direct to the axis. —Ac-
tion in four leaves above ; no action in the fifth and terminal one ; no action
below.
Medical Officers of the Army of India.
131
TABLE X.—Results of Application of Heat to the axes of Mimosa pudica
— c o n t i n u e d .
No. of
Experi-
ment.
Result.
43 Sun's rays focussed by a lens on the axis close to the inferior leaf and about two
inches from the one next above.—Spreading, centrifugal action in all the leaves
above ; no action below.
44 Application as in NO. 43, the nearest distal leaf being about 3 inches from the site
of application.—Action in all distal leaves ; no action below. In both 43 and 44
the first inferior leaf responded readily to direct stimulation, and in both the
effect on the axis at the site of application was to cause exudation of a drop of
fluid, but no visible discolouration.
45 Application as in No. 44.—Exudation of fluid ; action in all leaves above ; no action
below.
46 Application as in No. 45. —Exudation of a drop of fluid ; action in all leaves above ;
action in two leaves below.
47 Application as in No. 46, close to inferior leaf and 1.5 inches from the superior
one.—No exudation ; action in four leaves above ; no action below.
48 Application as in No. 47. —Slight discolouration ; no exudation ; action in all the
distal leaves ; action in the leaf next below ; no further action.
49 Application as in No. 48. —Action in three leaves above ; no action below.
50 Application as in No. 49. —Visible exudation of a small drop of fluid ; action in one
leaf above ; no action below.
5 1
Application as in the previous cases, but about midway between the superior and
inferior leaves.—Slight discolouration ; no visible exudation ; action in all nine
distal leaves ; no action below, although all the leaves readily responsive to
direct stimulation.
52 Application as above, but close to the inferior leaf and about 1.5 inches from the
superior one.—No visible discolouration or exudation ; action in all distal leaves ;
action in one leaf below.
53 Application as above —Discolouration and escape of fluid ; action in four leaves
above ; no action below.
54 Application as above.—Discolouration and escape of a large drop of fluid ; centri-
fugal action in six leaves above ; no action below.
55 Application as above, close to the inferior leaf. —Discolouration, but no visible exu-
dation ; action in four distal leaves ; slow action in first inferior leaf.
S 2
132
Scientific Memoirs by
TABLE X.—Results of Application of Heat to the axes of Mimosa pudica
—continued.
No. of
Experi-
ment.
Result.
56 Application as above, midway between inferior and superior leaves.—Slight dis-
colouration ; action in four distal leaves ; no action below.
57 Application as above, close to the inferior leaf and about 1.5 inches from the next
superior one.—No exudation ; successive centrifugal action in all eight distal
leaves ; no action below, although the inferior leaf was readily responsive.
58 Application as in No. 57.—No exudation ; action in all seven distal leaves ; no
action below ; inferior leaf readily responsive.
59 Application as in No. 58. —Centrifugal action of all distal leaves ; action in two
leaves below ; discolouration ; no visible exudation.
60 Application as in No. 59, close to the inferior leaf and about 1 inch from the su-
perior one.—No discolouration ; no exudation ; action in four leaves above,
consisting of partial action of the primary pulvini, and slight action of pinnules ;
no action below ; inferior leaf readily responsive to direct influences.
61 Application as in previous experiments near the inferior and distant from the
superior leaf.— A c t i o n i n t h e i n f e r i o r l e a f , a n d s p r e a d i n g c e n t r i f u g a l a c t i o n i n
all the distal leaves ; discolouration, and visible exudation of a large drop of
fluid.
62 Application as in No. 61, close to the inferior leaf and about 1.5 inches from the
superior one. —Discolouration ; no exudation ; progressive, slow, centrifugal
action in all distal leaves ; no action below.
63 Application in No. 62, about 0.75 inches from leaf next below and 4 inches from
leaf next above.—Discolouration, and slight exudation ; centrifugal action in
all eleven distal leaves ; no action below.
64 Application as in No. 63, about 0.5 inches from the inferior and 1.75 inches from
the superior leaf.—Slight discolouration ; no visible exudation ; action in three
first leaves above ; no action below.
65 Application as in No. 64, on a strong, hard axis, close to an inferior leaf and far
from the distal one. —No visible discolouration or escape of fluid ; action in
several leaves above; no action below.
66 Application as in No. 65, about 0.5 inches from next leaf below and 13 inches from
leaf next above.—At one and a half minutes from the cessation of the appli-
cation the leaf below and the two first leaves above acted ; at two minutes the
third leaf above the site of application acted ; at 2.25 minutes the fourth and
terminal leaf acted. The axis was a hard and dry one, and the application
caused discolouration, but no exudation.
Medical Officers of the Army of India.
133
TABLE X.—Results of Application of Heat to the axes of Mimosa pudica
—concluded.
No. of
Experi-
ment.
Result.
67 Application as above, about 0.25 inches from leaf next below and 3 inches from
leaf next above. —The axis a strong, woody one ; slow, progressive, centrifugal
action in all distal leaves ; long pause ; action in the leaf next below ; no
further action.
68 Application as above. —Discolouration and slight exudation ; action in all eight dis-
tal leaves ; action in first leaf below when centrifugal action had almost reached
the extremity of the axis ; no further action.
A total of 68 experiments. In all of them centrifugal, propagation occurred,
and in 50 centrifugal propagation only was present. In the 18 cases where
phenomena of centripetal propagation was present, it was very limited in
amount, in no cases advancing beyond the two nearest leaves. Of the total
68 experiments, 41 were carried out in the period from August to December, and
27 from December to March, and each of these groups furnished 9 cases of
centripetal propagation. The phenomenon of centripetal propagation would
from this seem to occur more frequently during dry than moist periods.
TABLE XI.—Results of section of Tips of Axes in Mimosa pudica.
No. of
Experi-
ment
Result.
The tips of axes gently cut off by means of a sharp scalpel or pair of
scissors.
1 Action in first four leaves beneath the tip no action in the next three leaves
action in the five following leaves.
2 Exudation of a large drop of fluid ; long pause ; action in leaf next below.
3 Exudation ; long pause, action in two leaves next below.
4 Action gradually propagated centripetally along the axis as far as it was trace-
able.
134 Scientific Memoirs by
TABLE XI.—Results of section of Tips of Axes in Mimosa pudica
—continued.
No. of
Experi-
ment.
Result.
5 Results as in the previous experiment.
6 No result. The axis was a dry, hard one.
7 Progressive, centrifugal action in nine leaves below.
8 A long pause ; action in first leaf below.
9 Progressive, gradual, centripetal action in ten leaves below, i.e., along entire course
of axis traceable.
1 0 Action in first leaf below ; long pause ; irregular action along entire course of axis
traceable ; some leaves acting, others situated at various points failing to
act.
1 1 Very long pause ; action in first leaf below.
12
Progressive action of five leaves situated at intervals along the axis.
13 Very long pause ; action in the first leaf below.
14 Long pause ; action in the first leaf below.
15 Successive action in the three upper leaves.
16 Irregular action along the axis as far as traceable.
17 Regular centripetal action along all of the axis traceable, including nine leaves.
18 Irregular action along all of the axis traceable.
20
Ditto
ditto.
21
Very long pause ; action in first inferior leaf
22
Very long pause ; irregular, centripetal action along the axis.
23 Long pause ; action of superior leaf.
24
Ditto
ditto.
25 Long pause ; regular centripetal action along the axis.
26 Pause, irregular, centripetal action along the axis.
Medical Officers of the Army of India.
135
TABLE XI.—Results of section of Tips of Axes in Mimosa pudica
—continued.
No. of
Experi-
ment.
Result.
27 Regular, centripetal . action along the axis so far as traceable.
28 Exudation of a large drop of fluid ; pause ; action in the third, fourth, fifth, and
sixth leaves from the tip ; no action in the first and second ; no action in the
seventh ; action in the eighth ; no action in the ninth ; action in the tenth.
29 Exudation ; pause ; action in the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth leaves below ;
action in the ninth and tenth leaves ; action in the first leaf ; no action in the
seventh and eighth leaves.
30 Exudation ; pause ; action in the second, third, fourth; fifth, sixth; and seventh
leaves below ; action in the first leaf ; action in other leaves successively along
the axis so far as, traceable.
31 Action in fourth, fifth, and sixth leaves below.
32 Exudation of a very large drop ; pause ; centripetal. action of all leaves successively
along the course of the axis so far as traceable.
33 Exudation of a large drop ; successive centripetal action in the primary pulvini
only of eight leaves below.
35 Exudation ; pause ; action in third, fourth, fifth, and sixth leaves below ; action in
first leaf below ; action of several leaves successively at wide intervals along
the axis. The primary pulvini alone acted in some leaves, whilst in others
complete action took place.
36 Exudation ; pause ; action in third, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, and ninth leaves ;
action in first leaf ; long pause ; action in second leaf, The primary pulvinus
alone acted in most of the leaves.
37 Exudation ; action of first, second, third, fourth, sixth, eighth; and ninth leaves. The
alone acted in most cases.
38 Action in fourth leaf below ;. action in third leaf; progressive centripetal action
al ong t he course of t he axi s ; l ong pause; act i on of fi rst l eaf.
A total: of 38 cases, demonstrating the possibility of very extensive centri-
petal propagation under certain conditions, and also showing the frequence with
which the phenomena of movement take place irregularly along the axis.
136 Scientific Memoirs by
TABLE XII.—Showing Results of section of Distal Pinnules in young
heavy Leaves.
No. of
Experi-
ment.
Result.
1 Action in the cut pinnules ; pause ; action in the primary pulvinus ; pause ;
action in the pinnules of that pinna ; no further result.
2 Action in the cut pinnules ; pause ; violent and extreme action in the primary
pulvinus ; pause ; centripetal action in one or two distal .pinnules of the cut
pinna ; no further result.
The other pinnules responded readily to mechanical impulses.
3 Action in the cut pinnules ; pause ; action in the primary pulvinus ; spreading,
centripetal action in the cut pinna ; pause ; nearly complete ; action in the
other distal pinna ; no further result.
4 Action in the cut pinnules ; pause ; progressive action in the 'cut pinna; pause ;
action in the remaining pinnæ ; action in the primary pulvinus.
5 Action in that pinna only.
6 Pause ; action in the primary pulvinus; action in the distal two-thirds of the cut
pinna ; pause ; action in the basal third ; no further result.
7 Pause ; action in the primary pulvinus ; action in the pinnules of that pinna ; no
further result.
8 Results as in No. 7.
9
Ditto.
to
Ditto.
This table illustrates two points very clearly—the discontinuity of action
under certain conditions, and the limitation of action under the influence
of others. All these experiments were conducted between 7 and 8 o'clock of
a warm, moist, still morning, on leaves which had not yet been exposed to direct
sunshine and which were loaded with moisture. They were all large, young
leaves, and in the majority of cases the weight of the pinnæ obviously strained
on the primary pulvinus. Under these conditions there was a special reason
why any loss of fluid should tell with special effect on the primary pulvinus,
and at the same time a reason for only limited loss of fluid. The result ought
to be specially rapid action in the primary pulvini and only limited action else-
where, and such results were actually present, as the table shows.
Medical Officers of the Army in India.
137
Action in the primary pulvinus preceding centripetal action in the cut pinna
appears to be the normal phenomenon under certain conditions. It may be
looked for as almost certain to occur in young, heavy leaves, in which, from the
position and direction of the petiole, a special strain is evidently exerted on the
primary pulvinus in maintaining the erect position. In old heavy leaves, spe-
cially if loaded with dew or rain, similar phenomena frequently manifest them-
selves. They do not, however, occur with such constancy as in the case of the
young leaves. This is to be credited to the alteration in the character of the
pulvinar tissues accompanying increased age. In the leaves of mimosa pudica
the tissue of the under-half of the primary pulvinus is relatively weakest when
the leaves arey oung and becomes gradually stronger and more resistant with
increasing age. So much does this take place in certain cases that it is not
uncommon to meet with old but otherwise healthy leaves in which the primary
pulvinus has become rigid and in which accordingly petiolar depression is
impossible. This increase in strength in the normally weakest tissue with in-
creasing age is not peculiar to the pulvini of Mimosa pudica, much more con-
spicuous examples of it are present in other plants. For example, in Bauhinias
and in Albizzia Lebbek the young leaves exhibit extreme nyctitropic move-
ments which gradually diminish and ultimately absolutely disappear with increas-
ing age and thickening and rigidity of the primarily passively weaker portions
of the pulvinar tissues.
TABLE XIII.—Results of focussing the Sun's rays on the upper surfaces of the
primary Pulvini of Mimosa pudica.
No. of
Experi-
ment.
Result.
1 Depression of the petiole.
2 Extreme elevation of the petiole, followed by depression.
3
Depression of the petiole.
4 Rotation of the petiole.
5
Depression of the petiole.
6 Strong elevation, followed by depression.
7 Strong direct elevation, followed by strong direct depression.
8 Elevation of the petiole.
138
Scientific Memoirs by, Medical Officers of the Army in India.
TABLE XIII .—Results of focussing the Sun's rays on the upper surfaces of the
primary Pulvini of Mimosa pudica —continued.
No. of
Experi-
ment.
Result.
9 Depression of the petiole.
1 0
Ditto.
1 1 Strong elevation ; a pause ; action in the pinnæ ; nothing more.
1 2 Depression of the petiole.
13 Strong elevation, followed by action in the pinnæ, and depression of the petiol.
14 Elevation ; a pause ; action in the pinnæ ; nothing more.
1 5 Elevation ; a pause ; depression.
A total of 15 experiments tried on two successive mornings and in which
phenomena of elevation manifested themselves in nine instances.
Note on some Aspects and Relations of the Blood-organisms
in Ague.
BY
H. V. CARTER, M.D., LOND.,
PRINCIPAL AND PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, GRANT COLLEGE, BOMBAY.
Respecting abnormal aspects of the blood in fevers termed " malarial," no
fresh information had been acquired of late ; nor had the bacillary structures,
described to me at Rome in 1880-81 by Professors T. Crudeli and Marchiafava,
been witnessed subsequently at Bombay ; and hence this subject (others inter-
vening) had remained in abeyance until the present year, when the striking con-
firmation of Dr. Laveran's researches by Professor Osler, published in the
British Medical Fournal of 12th March 1887, compelled, as it were, renewed atten-
tion. In July last, I therefore regularly examined the blood of a man affected with
quartan ague (case No. 1 below), and detecting in it at fever-periods many
pigmented spherules, I next found (in case No. 2) the equally characteristic
crescentic bodies ; after which further enquiry was continued until October, with
the results now noted. 1
It has thus been already ascertained that in Western India the so-termed
" hæmatozoa of malaria, " are readily to be discerned ; and, as this datum will
doubtless apply to India generally, the conclusions arrived at here, as well as
elsewhere, can be tested without delay.
Dr. A. Laveran's original work, the " Traité des Fiévres palustres, Paris,
1884," contains a full account of his " microbe du paludisme " in its ordinary
free forms, all of which I have seen ; and, subsequently, to those Algerian dis-
coveries of 1880-81, Dr. Marchiafava and several observers in Italy have added
to the list of " malaria-organisms " other minuter forms sessile within the red
blood-discs, which Dr. Osler in America also fully recognises, and which to a
certain extent have been verified here.
While so far in accord, the results newly acquired at Bombay yet differ in
some respects, and will therefore be given in detail : the kind and source of data
being first stated, next the organisms described, and lastly some of their rela-
tionships discussed.
1 During November some further data were acquired, which are alluded to in a Note at the end.
U
Medical Officers of the Army of India.
149
two or three were the flagella detectible on close scrutiny. The bare spheroids
take the dyes freely and often assume a granular aspect, which may be indicative
of their structure : a distinct coat is not apparent in such and the dark pigment
seems rather shrunken.
2. The rod-forms are curved and rather pointed at their ends, so as to be
comparable to semi-lunar, crescentic, sickle or sausage-shapes ; having their pig-
ment-particles aggregated about the middle ; and along their concavity, the
traces of a thin arched membrane : forms transitional to the spheroidal, of vary-
ing length, may also be sometimes seen. Isolated and quiescent, these bodies
float (Medusa-like) with the convexity upwards, and, therefore, show various
degrees of curvature according to position : their length equals 1/4,000 i n c h t o
1 / 2 5 , 0 0 0 i n c h ( 6 t o 1 0 µ ) , a n d t h e i r b r e a d t h t h e 1 / 1 0 , 0 0 0 i n c h t o 1 / 8 , 0 0 0i
n c h ( 2 . 5
t o
3.2 µ) ; when seemingly entire and laterally viewed, the pendant membrane mea-
-
sures, at deepest, one to two times the breadth of the body, but it is usually
shortened and shrunken, and even may not be visible: no cilium at either end
was ever detected, and the free edge of the membrane is either smooth or jagged.
Crescent-organisms are common; and may persist alone for weeks, even after
quinine ; their contour is well-defined, consistence firm and elastic, and aspect
clear or at most slightly granular : though not showing any amæboid changes of
form, and seemingly without a distinct envelope on their rigid exterior, yet as
occurs with the spherules above described, their pigment-contents commonly
manifest for a short time after withdrawal of the blood, slow movements indicating
a certain diffluence and activity of the internal substance ; when quiescent after
some hours, the pigment may appear as a folded membrane, or as aggregated or
even scattered granules. Usually free, not unfrequently the crescents are seen
apposed to side or edge of the red-discs ; such contact may indicate a certain
adhesive tendency possibly more than is manifest in the spherules, but it is not
considerable, and as regards the larger organisms seems quite incidental : as an
occasional aspect, I have noted crescents partially embraced in a folding of the
discs,—vide Plate IX B, Fig. 2.
These bodies stain readily, yet not always uniformly in thicker parts, and in
the membrane to only a slight tint.
In addition to the above, other free bodies seen were dotted plasmic specks ;
rare, minute, and noticeable chiefly in connection with disintegrating spheroids,—
see below.
Pigment free and enclosed. —In a free state, dark particles, either large or
small, were rare, being probably taken up by pale cells and conveyed away :
such may be small, equal, and similar to the granules in organisms ; or oftener
large, unequal, and much coarser in aspect, specially when contained in endo-
thelial cells,—see Plate IX B, Fig. 15 : both forms occurring in close relation-
ship of time with pigmented organisms, and bearing hardly less significance.