154 STUDIES IN ELECTRO-PHYSIOLOGY: 



comparatively feeble stimulus. Electricity concentrates on 

 points and projections, and in that connection the figure 

 assumes a more than usual importance. 



We may now study the physiology of muscular fibre 

 to see if there are any accepted facts or views which are 

 antagonistic to ours, and if so, whether they are susceptible 

 of explanation other than that given by the physiologist. 



" A nerve-fibre usually enters a muscle at the point 

 where there is the least displacement of the muscular 

 substance during contraction." 



The electrician would, of course, connect his line or 

 battery wire in such manner as to avoid interference with 

 the movable or active part of the apparatus. 



The next paragraph, from Landois and Stirling, will, I 

 fear, bring me into direct conflict with some accepted views. 



" Stimuli are simply various forms of energy, and they 

 throw the muscle into a state of excitement, while at the 

 moment of activity the chemical energy of the muscle is 

 transformed into work and heat, so that the stimuli act as 

 discharging forces . . . the excitability varies as the 

 temperature rises or falls." 



I cannot agree with the view that stimuli are various 

 forms of energy, holding, as I do, that they the natural 

 stimuli are manifestations of neuro-electrical energy ; 

 although certain chemical changes are undoubtedly con- 

 sequent upon them. 



* Again, it is not altogether correct to say that stimuli 

 act as discharging forces. They act first as charging 

 forces, and when contraction has taken place and not 

 before cause, as a result of that contraction, discharge 

 or neutralisation of charge. 



In regard to the effect of temperature upon the ex- 

 citability of muscular fibre the explanation can, I venture 

 to think, be given in three words, i.e., " Heat assists 

 conduction." 



