Page:Life Movements in Plants.djvu/87

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DIURNAL VARIATION OF EXCITABILITY
57

Figs. 20 and 21. In the former, the first response was normal at the temperature of the room, which was 32°C.; the next two exhibit depression of excitability under moderate cooling; the duration of application of moderately cooled glycerine is there indicated by the horizontal line below. On the cessation of application, the normal temperature was quickly restored, with the restoration of normal excitability.

In the next record (Fig. 21) is shown the effect of a more intense cold. It will be noticed that the first effect was a depression, and subsequently, a complete abolition of excitability. Thick dots in the record represent applications

Fig. 21. Effect of application of more intense cold. Note sudden depression followed by abolition of excitability, also persistent after-effect.

of stimulus which proved ineffective. It will also be noticed that even on the cessation of cooling, and the return of the tissue to normal temperature, the induced abolition of excitability persisted as an after-effect for a considerable time. I have likewise found that the aftereffect of cold in abolishing the conduction of excitation