62 STUDIES IN ELECTRO-PHYSIOLOGY: 



water-pipe, thence about 20 ft. through the earth to the 

 copper plate, and through the galvanometer to the other 

 hand, so completing the circuit. 



" Experiment 3. The brass tube was then laid on the 

 floor, which was covered by a thick carpet. I held the 

 electrode by one hand and put both feet on the brass 

 tube. I wore ordinary boots, which were dry. No deflec- 

 tion was obtained, because the dry leather soles of my 

 boots insulated me from the earth. I then took my 

 boots off and put my bare feet on the tube and obtained 

 an off-scale deflection. 



" Experiment 4. Next day was wet, and I walked about 

 half a mile, so that the soles of my boots, which were free 

 from holes and metal nails, became wet. On holding the 

 electrode in one hand and placing my feet on the brass tube 

 a rapid off-scale deflection occurred, showing that current 

 was passing through my boots to earth. 



" Experiment 5. The pole of the galvanometer con- 

 nected to earth by the copper plate was disconnected. It 

 was reconnected to a hand electrode exactly like the one 

 previously used, so that the galvanometer was now con- 

 nected to the hand electrodes only. After the necessary 

 earthing process, I held the electrodes in the hands and 

 obtained a deflection which remained steady at 170 mm. 

 I then placed my feet, still in wet boots, on the brass tube 

 and awaited results. The light on the scale very slowly 

 began to recede towards zero. I repeated this experiment 

 several times. The light never remained at zero, but if it 

 got as far went over to the other side of the scale, and 

 generally registered 40 to 60 mm. I take this as evidence 

 that electricity was gradually leaking out of my body to 

 earth, through my wet feet. One would not expect the 

 light to register zero, as there is a continuous generation of 

 electricity in the body. In view of these experiments, 

 the grandmotherly advice we have so often received, not 



