Physiology. — ''On tiespwatory Oscillations in the Galvanograin 

 of Man" By A. A. Weinberg. (Communicated by Prof. 



E. D. WlEKSMA.) 

 ' (Communicated at the meeting of June 24, 1922). 



An inquiry into the psycho-physiological significance of the psycho- 

 galvanic reflex, which will ere long be reported in detail, gave rise 

 to the question whether the respiratory arhythmiae in the plethysmo- 

 gram which result from a predominating influence of the sympathetic 

 nerve, or of the vagus, on the heart ^), may be attended witli 

 oscillations in the so-called rest-cni-rent of the galvanograni. In order 

 to set this question at rest the following experimental arrangement 

 was set up. 



Our subjects were healthy individuals from 20 to 40 years of age, without any 

 anomalies of the heart or the urine. The current was lead off by non- polarizable 

 electrodes from the baths of a four-cell bath, and was registered with the quick 

 sensitive electrocardiograph of Siemens and Halske. The non-polarizable electrodes 

 consisted of porous pots filled with a saturated zinc-sulphate solution, with a zinc 

 rod. These pots were placed in the baths, which contained a physiological NaCl- 

 solution heated to body-temperature. The current was recorded by the compensation- 

 method, as the condensator-method^) does not enable us to observe the slow 

 oscillations of the current. The sensitivity of the galvanometer, which was controlled 

 for each separate registration, amounted to 4 m.V. per cm. For convenience' sake 

 I selected the three leads which are generally used for taking an electrocardiogram. 

 The method of Einthoven and Roos'), which implies the use of fingerelectrodes 

 and has the advantage of not being complicated by the electrocardiogram, did not 

 yield satisfactory results in these experiments. For further particulars of the pro- 

 cedure of the experiments I refer the reader to my article in the "Nederlandsche 

 Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde" (I.e.). 



With all the subjects thus far examined in this way (fifteen) 

 respiratory oscillations were noticeable in the level of the electric 

 curve. The only requisite was that the subjects had to be in a 

 condition of perfect quiescence, and that their attention be not 

 diverted by anything. Directly when they were more or less pre- 



1) A. A. Weinberg, Ned. Tijdschrift v. Geneeskunde; 66, II, 343, 1922. 



2) W. Einthoven and J. Roos, Pflüger's Archiv; 189, 126, 1921. 



