62 FUNCTIONAL INERTIA 



turned on to the beating heart, and it continues to 

 beat for a short interval (katabolic inertia) before 

 its affectability is displayed, when it becomes 

 inhibited (response), then, on cessation of the 

 inhibitory stimulation, it remains in its state of 

 quiescence or predominant anabolism (Gaskell) 

 in the status quo in fact for a certain time ; this is 

 the period of anabolic inertia. 



In connection with cardiac inertia I cannot 

 do better than quote Professor Gregor Brodie * 

 dealing with cardiac refractory period and the 

 inability to tetanise the heart. " We note the 

 most striking result that no second contraction is 

 produced. It has fallen on the muscle fibre during 

 a time when it is unable to respond to a stimulus . . . 

 termed its refractory period.". " A heart cannot be 

 sent into complete tetanus ... as tetanisation 

 proceeded the refractory period tended to increase. 

 Note, moreover, that a contraction occurred after 

 stimulation had ceased, showing that the effect of 

 the stimuli did not stop immediately stimulation 

 ceased." 



In these sentences we have both the anabolic and 

 katabolic inertia of cardiac muscle described. 



Again it is in virtue of the katabolic inertia of 

 non-striated muscle that there elapses the relatively 

 very long latent period of 18" before stimulation of 

 the splanchnic nerve is followed by inhibition of the 

 intestinal movements, i.e., induces the anabolic phase. 



* T. G. Brodie, " Essentials of Experimental Physiology," pp. no, 

 in. (Longmans, 1898.) 



