281 
reflexes oscillations in latency and in magnitude of the reflex, which, 
however, are not more considerable than elsewhere. 
The reflex-convulsion is in normal conditions restricted not unfre- 
quently to the affected part of the body; if the latter is a limb, 
the adductors are the first to react. In case of a greater reflectory 
excitability the reflex involves the whole voluntary muscular system, 
trank, and extremities in the process. The propagation of the reflect- 
ory effect on the other parts of the body, either through modifi- 
cation of the stimulus, or through increased reflectory excitability, 
is not gradual but abrupt, in so far as with acoustic stimulation 
(e. g. clap of the hands) the myoclonic reflex movement is first 
restricted to the head, then on a slight intensification of the stimulus 
is transmitted rather abruptly to the fore-limbs, and on a second 
slight intensification comprises the whole trunk and the extremities. 
It seems, then, that the centra, which govern the co-operation of 
the several parts of the body, are not involved in the reflex the 
one after the other but all together. The rule “all or nothing” 
seems to hold also here within certain limits. The reflex-convulsion 
which involves head, legs and trunk, produces an impression as if 
all the parts of the body are contracted at the same moment. With 
the aid of separate tambours on the head and the trunk distinct 
differences are observable, which are evidently connected with the 
path along which the stimulus proceeds. The subjoined registration 
of the averages, determined in experimenting with cat 201 after a 
slight dose of camphorum monobromatum, may serve as an example: 
Reflex-time in '/so sec. 
Stimulus Reflex-movement of the head Movement of the back 
| 
Gong. Mesh AAA 
Tap on the back. 25 26: 
Tap on the tail. Jule 3.3. 
When in such a series of experiments the stimulus is gradually 
intensified, the reflectory effect will be seen to increase irregularly, 
until at a given moment a very marked reinforcement of the effect 
is brought about in the form of an “after-discharge”, invariably in 
the form of a series of convulsions. The extension of the reacting 
region does not at all take place according to Prrücer’s law. In 
applying the stimulus to the trunk, it is the head that convulses 
first. Under all circumstances the effect is much stronger when the 
stimulus is given unexpectedly and without being seen. 
