(67) 
The number of my experiments in which a second period appears, 
. i rm . d « ‘ 
is, however, not great. Therefore we may say also in this case, that 
) 
R 
the quotient Ri probably to be considered as a periodical function 
v 
AR 
of A. The value of the quotient ard however, is in these experi- 
tv 
ments considerably greater than in the preceding experiments, while 
in concordance with this the rapidity of the decay of the oscillations 
of the system is also greater. 
Figure IV (table VII) which is the reproduction of four observations 
from the same series, shows this clearly ; the new state of equilibrium 
is reached after a few oscillations. If we compare observation 3, 5 
and 6, the system proves to be a periodical one, at the third obser- 
vation; at observation 5 and 6 the rapidity of the decay de- 
AR 
creases with decreasing value of the quotient Rp At the tenth obser- 
AR 
% 
vation, where the quotient shows a very low value, the rapidity of 
the decay is very small notwithstanding the high value of 2. If we summa- 
rize these differences briefly, we conclude that in consequence of the high 
section of the spinal cord, the passive resistances in the chemical 
system of the skin-muscle reflex-apparatus considerably decrease. On 
account of clinieal observation chiefly regarding the plantar-reflex, 
it seems to me, that we have to deal here with a very general pheno- 
menon occurring always where there is a wasting of systems. In this 
case the rapidity of the decay of the oscillations of the system is 
very small in consequence of the decrease of the passive resistances in 
the chemical system. If is obvious that a good motor function can 
only exist, when the rapidity of the decay is so great, that the system 
is almost aperiodic. The motor disturbances, which occur in multiple 
sclérosis, in locomotor ataxy and many other diseases of the nervous 
system seems to be partly due to the decreasing resistances in the 
chemical system of the reflex are. 
If the system is perfectly aperiodic, then the quantity AZ is a 
perfectly determined quantity. This condition must also be fulfilled 
by the systems, to which the experimental psychology extends its 
experiments; if this condition is not satisfied, then the effect is a 
not determined quantity as in the physiological experiment. 
5% 
