An Outline of a Theory 
Protoplasmic motion 
OF THE Genesis 
AND Excitation. 
OF 
By T. Brailsfoiid Robertson, B.Sc. 
From the Physiological Laboratory of the University of Adelaide. 
Communicated by E. C Stirling, M.D, F.R.S. 
[Read April 4, 1905.] 
err-rrnx- CONTENTS. 
SECTIO>. PAGK. 
Iiitrodiiction ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 
1. Contact Difference of Potential between Electro- 
lytes find its Influence upon Surface 
Tension ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 
2. The lon-proteid Theory ... ... ... ... G 
3. The Chemotaxis and Galvanotaxis of UnioelluLar 
Organisms ... ... ... ... ... 7 
4. Tlie Structure of Striated Muscle 27 
o. The Contraction of Striated Muscle ... ... 29 
6. On the Propagation of Excitation in Nerve and 
Muscle 31 
7. On the Normal Presence of Anion-proteid in Cer- 
tain Tissues and their Sensibility ... ... 35 
8. Polar Exoitiation in Muscle and Nei"ve and 
Electrotonus 37 
9. The Influence of Varying Current Density ... 41 
10. Tetanus and Fatigue ... ... ... ... 42 
11. The Wo'rk of Muscle and the Influence of Tension 44 
12. The Action of Chemical Reagents upon the Con- 
ti"acture of Muscle ... ... ... ... 45 
13. Rhythmicity in Muscle and the Action of Inhibi- 
tory and Augmentor NeiTes ... ... ... 47 
14. Rhythm.icity in Nerves ... ... ... ... 52 
15. The Movements of Plants ... ... ... ... 53 
16. Summiary ... ... ... ... ... . . 56 
Introduction. 
As far as I have been able to ascertain from the litera- 
ture to which I have access, the theory which is put forward 
in this paper has not hitherto been propounded, at least in its 
entirety. 
A number of authors have acknowledged the importance 
of surface tension in the vital processes of an organism,^ but 
* Butschli (Protoplasm and Microscopic Foams : Trans, by 
E. A. Minchin, 1894, page 289) gives an account of s^arious 
tlieories as to the influence of surface tensi<in upon the move- 
ments of organisms which had been put forward up to that 
date. In the same work he develops his own theory, which, 
however, is quite different in principle from mine. 
