Dr. Bose's next work in 1903 was the discovery of the identity of
response and of automatic activity in plant and animal and of the
nervous impulse in plant. These new contributions were regarded as of
such great importance that the Royal Society showed its special
appreciation by recommending it to be published in their Philosophical
transactions. But the same influence which had hitherto stood in his way
triumphed once more, and it was at the very last moment that the
publication was withheld. The Royal Society, however, informed him that
his results were of fundamental importance, but as they were so wholly
unexpected and so opposed to the existing theories, that they would
reserve their judgment until, at some future time, plants themselves
could be made to record their answers to questions put to them. This was
interpreted in certain quarters here as the final rejection of Dr.
Bose's theories by the Royal Society, and the limited facilities which
he had in the prosecution of his researches were in danger of being
withdrawn. And everything was dark for him for the next ten years. The
only thought that possessed him was how to make the plant give testimony
by means of its own autograph.