42 I\Ir. H. F. Baxter on the manifestation of Current Force 



tact with the muscular tissue, and the other in contact with the 

 venous blood*. 



Before we proceed with our experiments we must refer to those 

 of Du Bois Reymond. Du Bois Reymoud's experiments confirm 

 those of Matteucci, but the former appears to have been the iirst 

 to show that similar effects were obtained when the longitudinal 

 and transverse sections of a nerve were formed into a circuit, to 

 those when the same parts were formed into a circuit with the 

 muscular fibre. 



Experiments. 



Exp. 1. Kitten. — Prussic acid dropped on the nose. 



The skin covering the inner part of the thigh was reflected, 

 and the abdomen laid open; one electrode in contact with the 

 external surface of the muscles of the thigh, the other with the 

 blood flowing from the iliac vein ; the latter negative 3'^, but the 

 effect did not continue : the former electrode was inserted into 

 the substance of the muscles ; no effect. 



The muscles at the back part of the thigh were divided ; one 

 electrode in contact with the divided, the other with the external 

 surface ; no decisive result. 



Exp. 2. Rabbit. — Prussic acid dropped on the eye. 



The skin and fascia were reflected from the inner and fore 

 part of the thigh, and the rectus femoris divided transversely; 

 one electrode in contact with the outer, the other with the divided 

 surface ; the former positive 3° ; by making and breaking contact 

 made to increase to 5°. 



The abdomen was laid open, one electrode in contact with the 

 external surface of the adductor muscles of the thigh, the other 

 with the blood from the iliac vein ; an effect appeared to be pro- 

 duced at one time in one direction, at another time in the other. 



The external and divided surfaces of the muscles at the back 

 part of the thigh were formed into a circuit, the external slightly 

 ptositive. 



One electrode inserted into the mass on the fore part, the other 

 into that at the back part of the thigh; no decisive effect. 



One electrode inserted into the tendon of the rectus femoris, 

 the other in contact with its external surface ; no effect. 



Exp. 3. Cat. — Prussic acid dropped on the tongue. 



One electrode in contact with the external surface of the ad- 

 ductor muscles of the thigh, the other with the blood flowing 

 from the iliac vein, the latter slightly jwsitive ; the former elec- 



* It has always been a matter of some surprise to us that Matteucci has 

 never performeil this experiment ; at least we have not been able to find 

 any record of his having done so. 



