( 7:^ ) 



Q = at -i- b (4) 



of which formnhi Wetss (7) and La Picque (4) have demonslraled, 

 that, at great approximation, it hokis likewise for the irritation-eifect 

 of constant currents of very short duration. Keith Lucas (9), vs^ho 

 made many exact experiments with constant currents of sliort thira- 

 tion, finds also the hyperbolic curve of formula (1) without exception. 

 So also GiLDEMPUSTEK and Wkiss in Pfeügehs Archiv Bd. 130. 



2, One can consequently admit thai the formula (1) has so clearly 

 been proved by the experiments, that a theory or law leading- to 

 results that are at variance with this foi-mula camiot be maintained. 



This is the reason why I rejected already in 1891 the law of 

 DuBOis-RiiYMOND, which was then still generally accepted. 



The law of Dubois-Reymond says, that every etfect of irritation is 

 the consequence of a change of current-strength, and that the in- 

 tensity of the effect is proportional to the i-apidity with which this 



. di 



change takes place, or m a tormida f = a — 



* dt 



But this formula applied to condensator experiments led to absolutely 



WTong results, and therefoi'c I have (10) replaced this formula by 



the following : e = ede 



- ,it 



This applies to the elementary effect e, whilst the total effect y 

 of the irritation is found by : 



r 



y = a iie-'^^dt (5) 







in which a and [3 are two constants dependent on the nature of 

 the tissues. 



« is now the coefficient, indicating the original sensibility of the 

 l)reparaiion. 



i3 is the coefficient, indicating with what rapidity the original 

 sensibility gradually decreases. 



I consequently admit 1. that the irritation-effect is pi'oportional 

 to i itself and 2. that every following irritation has a smaller effect 

 than the preceding one, that consequently there is in every irritation 

 something that diminishes the effect. » 



This formula (5) furnishes immediately for condensators the for- 

 mula (1) in the following form : 



rmS m 1 



F = — R + ~.y^ (6) 



in which in is the constant irritation, required for the minimal effect. 



