214 PHYSIOLOGY OF MUSCLES AND NERVES. 



the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestinal 

 canal, it may be clearly shown that the electric force 

 is really situated in the glands. On irritation of the 

 nerves which pass into the skin by which the glands 

 are excited into activity, the gland-current decreases in 

 strength, and exhibits a negative variation, just as the 

 muscle-current decreases w^ien the muscle is excited 

 into activity. In this case, also, a relation therefore 

 exists between the activity and the electric condition ; 

 and this adds to the similarity between muscles and 

 glands. 



Engelmann tried to explain the secretion of the 

 glands physically, by the electric currents present 

 within them. This must, however, be regarded as not 

 yet sufficiently confirmed to claim further attention in 

 this place. 



