600 



RAYMOND PEAUL. 



action of the current, the nature of the contractions and 

 relaxations of different parts of the body can be very cleai'ly 

 seen^ and since these are the most significant features of the 

 animal's reactions to the electric current, they may be de- 

 scribed a little more fully. These reactions for the three 

 chief positions are shown in Fig". 47. The essential features 

 are contraction of the anode end of the body Avhen in line 

 Avith the current^ and convexity on the anode side when at 

 riy'ht ano-les. Besides this there seems to be some slight 

 expansion at the kathode end of specimens in line Avith the 

 current, but this appearance is not constant. Reversal of the 

 current in these paralysed specimens causes contraction at 



+ 



Fig. 47. — Uiagram bliowiiis; llic contractions caused by tlie current with 

 tlie body in the three principal positions. 



the new anode end or bending towards the new kathode. On 

 breaking the current the contracted jtortioiis relax. 



c. Mechanism of the Reactions. — It will be seen from 

 the figures, and the account which has been given of the 

 responses to the electric currt'ut, that there is an apparent 

 anomaly in the behavimir. Tlu' specimen contracts always 

 at the anode end of the body, but apparently not on the 

 anode side of the body. I believe that the explanation for 

 this apparent difference in behaviour is to be found in the 

 structure of the animal, and in a peculiarity in the action of 

 the constant current which has been noted in inmtlur c;ise. 

 Whe'U tin- animal is in line with the currc-nt the contraction 



