1 68 BEHAVIOR OF THE LOWER ORGANISMS 



within the protoplasm, the endoplasmic granules and vacuoles becoming 

 more alkaline in reaction. Statkewitsch therefore concludes that the 

 peculiar effect of the electric current on the cilia is due to a disturbance 

 in the usual equilibrium of the chemical processes taking place in the 

 protoplasm. The results of this disturbance are first shown, so far as 

 the ciliary action is concerned, in the cathodic region, spreading thence 

 over the remainder of the body, as illustrated in Fig. 61. 



For any satisfactory theory of the reaction to the electric current, 

 one thing is essential; it must account for the cathodic reversal of the 

 cilia. It is perfectly clear that this is the characteristic feature of this 

 reaction, and a theory that will account for this reversal will at once 

 clear up the curious and apparently contradictory effects produced under 

 various conditions. Theories which do not take this into account are 

 at the present time anachronisms ; they fail to touch the real problem. 



Whatever be the cause, it is clear that the behavior of infusoria under 

 the action of the electric current differs radically from the behavior under 

 other conditions. The position taken by the organism is not attained 

 by trial of varied directions of movement, as in the reactions to most 

 other stimuli, but in a more direct way. Different parts of the body 

 are differently affected by the current, so that the behavior is not co- 

 ordinated and directed toward a unified end, as in the reactions to other 

 stimuli. The motor organs of the different parts of the body tend to 

 drive the animal in different directions. The movement actually oc- 

 curring is a resultant of these differently directed factors. It is there- 

 fore sometimes in one direction, sometimes in another, depending on 

 the relative strength of the opposing factors. The animal thus does 

 not approach an optimum nor cease to be stimulated, whatever the 

 direction taken. Sometimes indeed no position of even comparatively 

 stable equilibrium is possible (Spirostomum). 



These peculiarities of the reaction to the electric current are due to 

 the forced reversal of the cilia in the cathodic region of the body, — an 

 effect not produced by any other agent. If the current produced only 

 its anodic effect, the reaction to electricity would be, so far as the evi- 

 dence indicates, precisely like that to other agents. The cathodic re- 

 versal of the cilia interferes with the normal behavior of the organism. 

 Thus the action of the infusoria under the electric current is not typical 

 of the behavior under other stimuli. It may be compared to the be- 

 havior of an organism that is mechanically held by clamps and thus 

 prevented from showing its natural behavior. It is interesting to note 

 that this cramped and incoherent behavior is found only under the in- 

 fluence of an agent that never acts on the animals in their natural exist- 

 ence. The reaction to electricity is purely a laboratory product. 



