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, will often continue for hours to respond 
to single stimuli with a bout of rhythmic 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—ze. before the 
first of the rhythmie 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 
oceur after prolonged soaking in weak solutions of 
olycerine. 
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 
