Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-20
PROBLEMS OF LIFE
Deep Subjects Discussed In Papers Before
the Biological Section.

Deep Subjects Discussed In Papeo Before
the Biological Section.
An interesting section Of biology was held TO-
day. number of papers were read which
were technical, but were appreciated by the
experts present Prof. John A. Ryder pre-
sentod paper "On the Kinds Of Motion Of
the Ultimate Units Of Contractils Living
Matter
/. Ameba has vortex movement Of its
particles; axes infinite in number; vortex
aattened or eliiptical, due to gravity, cohesion,
&c.
2. Muscle has no such obvious vortex move
ment OF its particles or inotogmata CEngel-
MANN, but all move with their axes parallel to
the surface OF the muscle, and they therefore
have definite axes, as have all the subsequent
classes.
3. In the fat cilium there may be alternating
rhytbmicai movement Of the inotosmata OF
opposite sides.
4. In the stalk Of vorticella, the inotogmata
are arranged in whorls or superposed disks.
Ihe lnotogmata Of one side of those disks have
maximum motion, those Of the opposite side
minimum movement The points of max
imnm and minimum motion of tho inotagmata
| In the superposed disks in the stalk OF WORTH
celia form two spiral lines. This effects the
| spiral contraction Of the stalk Of this organism,
| since the points where the maximum and
| fixed.
8. In certain fagella and organisms the inotog-
| mata are arranged as in 4. but their points o!
| maximum and minimum motion can revoive
| around the center of the column OF plasm A OF
which they form part, either to the right or
left. thus propagating spiral or screw-like
motion forward or backward.
VENUS FLY TRAP.
DR.. J. NJ. Macfarlane, from Edinburgh, gave
another chapter on the history of Venus Fly
Trap" He stated that after proving that two
touches we're necessary under ordinary con.
ditions for producing closure of the leaf he ex.
perimented on a series and found that whether
one only Of the six veritable hairs was twice
| touched or whether two were each touched
once the same result occurred.
lie then tried TO ascer tain how long recollec-
ton of the first of the two stimuli would be re-
tanned by the protoplasm of the leaf cells, and
| found that sharp memory power was shown fer
| fifteen seconds; that during the next fifteen
! seconds it became greatly weaker and recollec.
lost in 60-70 seconds This the lecturer pointed
out exactly agreed with the so-called latent
period" q muscular contraction in animals,
though extended over greatly longer period.
But even three stimuli might be given before
closure il an interval of less than the sixteenth
OF second elapsed between the first and Sec
| ond shock. He further stated and showed that
| every part Of the leaf blade is sensitive, and
closes after two ships, or after three il two OF
these closely succeed each other; also after re-
pested irritation Of the outer or inner surface.
But II the first Of the snip shocks given be
pretty strong the memory OF the protoplasn is
| intensified, SO that even after the lapse of two
minutes closure occurs on second shock.
But while these are the normal phenomena
exhibited by the leaf an extremely powerful
shock on jet of water such Is the plant will sell
dom encounter in the wild state at once pro.
| duces closure. The action Of electrical and
chemical stimuli was then discussed, the effect
Of those being to prove identity of behavior in
the Leaf cells with a nerve muscle cell OF the
lower animals. Reference vas then made to
| the nature and production OF the digestive se.
erection and to the minute structure OF the celll
that bring about contraction, the author stat.
| ing, though with q degree Of canton, that he
had observed the protOplasm TO show in some
cases an extremely fine waviness as in muscu.
| Lar tissue, but be desired further investigation
| before fully committing himself.
| The description was rendered specially inter
| esting by the presence of a beautiful lot OF
plants secured for the occasion by Mr.. Oliver
| of the Washington botanic garden, and On these
| the lecturer demonstrated to the audience the
| peculiarities described.