ill Lacteal Absorption and Nutrition. 45 



when the electrode was inserted into the muscular mass, blood 

 positive 2°. 



One electrode inserted into the brain, the other in contact 

 with the blood flowing from the internal jugular vein; the latter 

 positive 4° : the latter electrode was inserted into the muscles of 

 the thigh, the other remaining in the brain ; the former posi- 

 tive 3°. Some difficulty occurred in exposing the brain, and the 

 aperture was small. 



The external and divided surfaces of the lumbar muscles were 

 formed into a circuit ; the external positive 2°. 



One electrode inserted into the spinal cord, and the other in 

 contact with the lumbar muscles, and afterwards with the abdo- 

 minal viscera ; the latter electrode positive in both instances, but 

 more so when in contact with the abdominal viscera. 



Exp. 10. Cat. — Prussic acid dropped on the tongue. In 

 removing a portion of the skull considerable hsemorrhage ensued. 



One electrode in contact with the blood flowing from the 

 internal jugular vein, the other inserted into the brain ; a slight 

 effect occurred sometimes in one direction and sometimes in the 

 other ; the electrode in contact with the brain covered with blood. 



The external surface of the adductor muscles of the thigh, and 

 blood flowing from the iliac vein; no decisive result : when the 

 electrode was inserted into the substance of the muscles, blood 

 slightly positive. 



The tendon of the rectus femoris and the external, and after- 

 wards the tendon and the divided surface, were formed into cir- 

 cuits ; no effect. 



Other circuits were formed in all these experiments, which we 

 have not thought worth while to relate. 



From these experiments we may deduce the following infer- 

 ences : — 1st. That when the muscular tissue and the venous blood 

 from the same limb are formed into a circuit, the effect upon the 

 needle indicates the blood to be positive, but slightly so; and 

 2nd, that when the nervous tissue and the venous blood are 

 formed into a circuit, the blood h positive^-. 



Other inferences, confirming the experiments of iMatteucci and 

 other Italian philosophers, may be also drawn. But do not the 

 facts we have related confirm the inference deduced by Mat- 

 teucci as to the origin of the muscular current ? And may we 

 not draw the same inference respecting the nervous current, viz. 

 that during the process of nutrition in the living animal the tissues 

 {the 7nuscular and the nervous) and the venous blood are in opposite 

 electric states ? If the experimental evidence, however, be con- 

 sidered as not affording such direct evidence as in the case of 



* Wc do not attempt in these experiments to inquire into the force of 

 the current, but merely to ascertain its existence. 



