On the 8th February 1918, Sir J. C. Bose delivered the following
discourse on 'The Automatic Writing of the Plant,' at the Bose
institute:--
Sir J. C. Bose spoke of two different ways of gaining knowledge, the
lesser way is by dwelling on superficial differences, the mental
attitude which makes some say 'Thank God I am not like others:' The
other way is to realise an essential unity in spite of deceptive
appearance to the contrary. He had recently been on a visit to the
western Presidency, he went there as a stranger, but he has come back
with a pang at parting from kindreds. Never in his life did he realise
so vividly as now the great unity that drew together all who regarded
India as their home and place of work. They were bound to each other by
mutual ties of dependence. He had for many years been engaged in
discovering community in physical manifestations of life. Now he has
realised an abiding unity in the highest manifestations of human life,
in community of thoughts and ideals.
In the wide expanse of life itself few things would appear so strikingly
different as the life activities in plants and in animals. But if in
spite of the seeming differences, it could be proved that these life
activities are fundamentally similar, this would undoubtedly constitute
a scientific generalisation of very great importance. It would then
follow that the complex mechanism of the animal machine, that baffled us
so long, need not remain inscrutable for all time, for the intricate
problems of animal physiology would then naturally find their solution
in the study of corresponding problems under simpler conditions of
vegetative life. That would mean an enormous advance in the science of
physiology, of agriculture, of medicine, and even of psychology.
How then are we to know what unseen changes take place within the plant?
The only conceivable way would be, if that were possible, to detect and
measure the actual response of the organism to a definite testing blow.
When an animal receives an external shock it may answer in various ways;
If it has voice, by a cry, if dumb, by the movement of its limbs. The
external shock is the stimulus, the answer of the organism is the
response. If we can make it give some tangible response to a questioning
shock, then we can judge the condition of the plant by the extent of the
answer. In an excitable condition the feeblest stimulus will evoke an
extraordinarily large response, in a depressed state even a strong
stimulus evokes only a feeble response, and lastly, when death has
overcome life, there is an abrupt end of the power to answer at all.
Prof. Bose then explained the principle and action of his apparatus by
which the plant attached to it is automatically excited by successive
stimuli which are absolutely constant. In answer to this the plant makes
its own responsive records, goes through its own period of recovery, and
embarks on the same cycle over again without assistance from the
observer at any point. In this way the effect of changed external
conditions is seen recorded in the script made by the plant itself.
It has been thought that plants like mimosa alone were sensitive. But
Sir J. C. Bose's apparatus demonstrated the unsuspected fact that every
plant and every organ of every plant answered to a shock by a
contractile spasm, as by an animal muscle. If perception of feeble
stimulus be taken as a measure of ascent in the scale of life then the
superiority of man must be established on a foundation more secure than
sensibility. The most sensitive organ by which we can detect electric
current is our tongue. An average European can perceive a current as
feeble as six micro-amperes, a micro-ampere being a millionth part of
the electric unit. Possibly the tongue of a Celt is more excitable, and
I have no doubt that my countrymen can easily boast the Celt in this
particular test. But the plant mimosa is ten times more excitable than
the tongue of an advocate in this province.
Professor Bose then showed how identical were the effects of light,
warmth and various drugs on the plant and animal. These experiments
bring the plant much nearer than we ever thought. We find that it is not
a mere mass of vegetative growth, but that its every fibre is instinct
with sensibility. We are able to record the throbbings of its pulsating
life, and find these wax and wane according to the life conditions of
the plant, and cease in the death of the organism. In these and many
other ways the life reactions in plant and man are alike, and thus
through the experience of the plant, it may be possible to alleviate the
sufferings of man.
--_Amrita Bazar Patrika_, 9-2-1918.