Structure and Polarity of Electric Motor Nerve-Cell in Torpedoes. 245 
a condition that would have to obtain if its orientation in nature were 
due to the natural electric current. It does, however, move part way 
there, as far as the dissolved chromatin mass extends. When one 
remembers that this chromatin mass extends throughout the nucleus 
under normal conditions, it seems possible that the electric current, 
when in proper strength, may tend to move the plasmosome in the 
kathodal direction, which is the direction of the orientation that we 
are discussing. This possibility, however, is not a strong one. 
Having considered the results of strong electric currents, I will now 
compare with them some results obtained by what I shall call very 
strong currents, such as were used in experiments on torpedoes Nos. 
5 and 4. 
Figure 20, plate 4, from torpedo No. 5, will show these results satis- 
factorily, and it may be best studied by a simple comparison with the 
last figure (19, plate 4), which represents the effects of strong currents. 
The same strong trend of the nucleus toward the kathode with the 
resultant semilunar space on the anodal side of it is apparent. Also, 
the movement of the principal chromatic material in a homogeneous 
mass toward the anode. The same little ‘blister,’ probably containing 
a soluble constituent of the nuclear content that has been passed 
through the anodal surface of the nucleus, is to be seen and is even 
larger and better developed than with the strong current. 
This specimen, being stained with iron hematoxylin, shows the 
kathodal collection of chromatic material which, as has already been 
stated, is particularly susceptible to this stain. It may also be noted 
that the neurosomes are shown by the fixation and stain and that a 
series of light-staining, elongate areas are to be seen in the cytoplasm. 
Two marked differences are seen as a result of increased electric 
action: the anodal aggregation of chromatic material has been differ- 
entiated into a thinner, lighter-staining kathodal layer, and a main 
anodal body that contains the plasmosome and the regularly spaced 
karyosomes. These latter show the second marked difference. Each 
begins to swell up and acquire a vesicle-like form with a non-staining 
interior. This bubble-like swelling does not begin from the center, but 
from near one side of each karyosome, so that the resulting spherical 
shell has a lump on one side which represents the original mass. The 
writer has no explanation for this reaction. 
Again, we find that our main point to be deducted from the examina- 
tion of these very strong electric-current experiments is that the plas- 
mosome is not moved all of the way toward the kathodal end of the 
nucleus, but that it is moved to the kathodal limit of the anodally 
segregated chromatin. 
It having been concluded that the electric current was not a direct 
cause of the orientation, the question of gravity was taken up for con- 
sideration. As in the case of electricity, this force was applied to the 
