334 NATURAL SCIENCE [November 
purpose of a kind of neuroplasma and receive whatever shape you 
intend to impress on it, viz., that of a multipolar cell (fig. 17), a 
cylindrical conductor (fig. 5), etc. Its vibrations may be obtained 
by the action of azotic or chromic acid, or by means of a small rod 
or an ant’s leg. The vibrations can be verified by fixing a small 
paper lever on the surface of the liquid, or by receiving a luminous 
ray reflected on a screen. 
Some incidents of nervous transmission are rendered evident by 
a differential manometer of caoutchouce full of water, 
Diagrams illustrating Experiments on Artificial Nerves. For explanation see the text, 
(«) Nervous vibration in general.—1. The rubbing of a nerve 
of mercury with a soft feather is enough to make it vibrate. 
It is, therefore, probable that a very slight mechanical or 
chemical action (e.g. light) would be able to shake the band axis that 
is, in general, carefully isolated in the middle of a mixture of fats 
and albuminous matters. The impressionability of liquids is ex- 
ceedingly delicate. Milne-Edwards* has in the experiments per- 
1 Physiologie et Anatomie Comparée, Vol. xii., p. 523; Jamin, Cours de physique 
de l’Ecole Polytechnique. Paris, 1803. 
