72 Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology. 



Carlson, A. J. The Rhythm Produced in the Resting Heart of Molluscs by 

 the Stimulation of the Cardio-Accelerator Nerves. Amer. /our. of Physiol., 

 1904, 12, 55-66. 



The author has proved that the cardio-accelerator nerves of mol- 

 luscs when stimulated electrically produce rhythmical contractions of 

 the resting heart. He is inclined to believe, also, that under favorable 

 conditions the resting mammalian heart may likewise be caused to con- 

 tract by stimulation of the accelerator nerves. The physiology of the 

 cardiac nerves of invertebrates is of special interest because in some 

 forms accelerator nerves alone are present, in others inhibitory nerves 

 alone, and in others nerves which are both inhibitory and acceleratory. 



R. M. V. 



Carlson, A. J. The Nervous Origin of the Heart-beat in Limulus, and the 

 Nervous Nature of Co-ordination or Conduction in the Heart. Amer. 

 Jour, of Physiol., 1 904, 12, 67-74. 



"It can now be stated as a fact that in Limulus the origin of the 

 heart-beat is nervous, not muscular, and that conduction of the impulse or 

 the co-ordination of the different parts of the heart takes place through 

 the nerves, not through the muscular tissue." This important conclu- 

 sion Dr. Carlson draws from the results of a series of ideally definite 

 and well chosen experiments. He has shown (i) that lesion of the 

 median and the two lateral nerves which supply the heart destroys co- 

 ordination, (2) that cross-section of the heart does not interfere with 

 co-ordinated rhythm so long as the nerves are intact, (3) that heart- 

 beat ceases when the median nerve is severed. The author has found 

 material which is particularly favorable for the study of heart action 

 in its relation to the nervous system, and the importance of his work 

 will be recognized at once by all who have interest in physiology. 



R. M. Y. 



Schiller, V. Ueber die physiologischen Wirkungen des Delphinins (Hegl). 

 Arch. f. {Anat. u.) Physiol., 190^, 248-255, Taf. VI. 



Delphinin paralyzes the vagus endings iu the heart to a marked 

 degree. . r. p. 



loteyko, J. Mecanisme physiologique de la reaction de deg^n^rescence des 

 muscles. Travaux du Laboratoire de Physiologie, Instituts Solvay, 1904, 

 6, 59-78. 

 The reaction of the muscle which has undergone degeneration 

 because of separation from its nerve argues for contractility of the sar- 

 coplasm, and a qualitative difference in irritability of the sarcoplasm as 

 compared with the fibrillae. The author questions whether there may 

 not be a similar qualitative differentiation of irritability in the sub- 

 stance of the nerve. <>• e. c. 



