On the Electrical Condition of the Egg of the Common Fowl. 55 
the animal is in a strong and healthy state, is followed by diabetes; 
but the effect is not so rapidly produced as in the dog. It has been 
noticed at the end of four hours after the operation, and has been 
observed to exist until the following day. 
** Excision of the superior cervical ganglia in the rabbit with a 
division of the pneumogastrics above their gangliform enlargement 
close to their exit from the skull, has been attended with the produc- 
tion of saccharine urine in a shorter space of time than when the 
ganglia alone have been removed, notwithstanding that division of 
the pneumogastrics in the situation referred to, has not been seen by 
itself to cause any positive effect.” 
Such is a simple statement of the principal conclusions derivable 
from the author’s experiments, which are given in detail in his com- 
munication. As to the interpretation of the results that have been 
obtained, this he leaves for further investigation, in which he is now 
engaged, if possible, to disclose. The experiments on the sympathetic 
were commenced under the notion that it might form the medium of 
transmission of nervous force from the medulla oblongata to the liver. 
From this supposition certain facts have been discovered which are 
left for the present, without discussing whether the notion that led 
to them is right or wrong. 
“On the Electrical Condition of the Egg of the Common Fowl.” 
By John Davy, M.D., F.R.SS. L. & E. &c. 
The structure of the egg suggested to the author the idea of its 
exerting electrical action. This was confirmed on trial. Using a 
delicate galvanometer and a suitable apparatus, on plunging one wire 
into the white, and the other, insulated, except at the point of con- 
tact, into the yolk, the needle was deflected to the extent of 5°; and 
on changing the wires, the course of the needle was reversed. When 
the white and yolk were taken out of the shell, the yolk immersed 
in the white, the effects on trial were similar; but not so when the 
two were well-mixed; then no distinct effect was perceptible. 
Indications also of chemical action were obtained on substituting for 
the galvanometer a mixture consisting of water, a little gelatinous 
starch, and a small quantity of iodide of potassium, especially when 
rendered very sensitive of change by the addition of a few drops of 
muriatic acid. In the. instance of newly-laid eggs, the iodine libe- 
rated appeared at the pole connected with the white; on the con- 
trary, in that of eggs which had been kept some time, it appeared at 
the pole connected with the yolk, answering in both to the copper 
in a single voltaic combination formed of copper and zinc. 
The author, after describing the results obtained, declines specu- 
lating on them at present, merely remarking, that in the economy of 
the egg, and the changes to which it is subject, it can hardly be 
doubted that electro-chemical action must perform an important 
part, and that in the instance of the ovum generally, 7. e. when com- 
posed of a white and of a yolk, or of substances in contact, of hete- 
rogeneous natures. 
