Eesearches on the Discharge of the Electric Organ. ^^ 



Full details of the data and tlie computed number^ are given in tlie 

 Appendix. 



The numbers in the table are plotted in Plate XIL, Fig. 1. 

 Keferring to Curve 1, the abscissa represents the interval be- 

 tween two momentary stimuli in K) "* sec, and the ordinate 

 represents the ratio of the two jnodal latent periods subtracted by 

 one, L e. the excess of the delay of the second discharge with 

 respect to the first. Here we see that the ordinate decreases 

 exponentially with the nicrease of the abscissa. AVe assume the 

 curve to l)e expressed by exponential function ij = Mc''-\ and 

 determine the value of J/ and of ?., in which we may find M = 1-74, 

 X = 409. Calculating the values of y from the formula, and plot- 

 ting these numbers on the experimental curve, we see that they 

 agree very well within tlie limits of the experimental errors. 



The other curve in the figure is that of the heights of the 

 second discharges. To eliminate the individual errors of each 

 experiment, the ratio of the height of the second discharge to that 

 of the first is taken as ordinate. Referring to the curve Ave see 

 that, even in 1/100 sec. from the first stimulus, the height of 

 the second discharge is smaller than the normal. Proceeding to- 

 wards the origin from tliis point it increases even greater than the 

 normal, and then decreases quickly to an almost imperceptible 

 height where the second stimulus enters the so-called refractoiy 

 period. The refractory period in this experiment is measured to be 

 32 Ox 10-* sec. In tliis experiment it is not certain whether in the 

 refractoiy peri(jd the response does not occur absolutely, or whether 

 some small responses continue to exist up to the origin of the C(j- 

 ordinates. Indeed there exist many small discharges that cannot 

 be distinguished from the discliarge of the higher order of the 

 preceding experiment. To clear this point further investigations 

 will be necessary. 



The increase of the height of the second discharge towards the 

 origin seems to l)e paradoxical at first sight. But on examining 

 the film, we can find that when the second discharge is great, the 

 second stimulus is at an instant corresponding to a point on the 

 ascending branch of the first discharge, so that the second discharge 



