ARTIFICIAL RHYTHM. 195 



time after the transference without undergoing any 

 change, the length of this time depending on the 

 stage in the severity and the spasm at which the 

 transference is made. After this time is passed, 

 the spasm becomes less pronounced than it was at 

 the moment of transference, and a reversion takes 

 place to the rhythmic contractions. The spasm 

 may next pass off entirely, leaving only the rhythmic 

 contractions behind. Eventually these too fade 

 away into quiescence, but it is remarkable that 

 they leave behind them a much more persistent 

 exaltation of irritability than is the case with acid. 

 For in the case of glycerine, the paralyzed bell 

 which has been exposed to the influence of the 

 irritant and afterwards become quiescent in normal 

 sea-water, Avill often continue for hours to respond 

 to single stimuli with a bout of rhj^thmic contrac- 

 tions. This effect of glycerine in producing an 

 extreme condition of exalted irritability is also 

 rendered apparent in another way ; for if, during 

 the soaking stage of the experiment — i.e. before the 

 first of the rhythmic contractions has occurred — 

 the bell be nipped with the forceps, the effect may 

 be that of so precipitating events that the whole of 

 the rhythmic stages are omitted, and the previously 

 quiescent bell enters at once into a state of rigid 

 tonic spasm. This effect is particularly liable to 

 occur after prolonged soaking in weak solutions of 

 glycerine. 



As in the case of stimulation by acid, so in that 

 of stimulation by glycerine, the artificial rhythm 

 never begins in any strength of solution until the 



