697 



the respiration of muscle is carried on more energetically in muscles 

 which are made to contract than in muscles which are allowed to 

 rest. Prof. Matteucci, who has recently ratified this fact by some 

 very elaborate investigations, holds that the chemical actions of 

 muscular respiration are transformed into electricity, and the elec- 

 trical into contractile force ; but there is just as good reason for 

 supposing that the increased chemical action may be required to 

 keep up the muscular current, which current is being continually 

 annihilated by the actions which bring about contraction. And 

 thus, after all, the increased respiration of muscles which are made 

 to contract, may refer, not to the contraction, but to the renewal of 

 the state of relaxation. At any rate, it is scarcely possible to refer 

 to this fact as an objection to the view which is set forth in this 

 paper. 



t ' Regarded in an electrical point of view then, there appears to be 

 good reason for concluding that the history of muscular action is in 

 harmony with the theory which I have endeavoured to set forth at 

 various times, and more recently in the second edition of a work 

 having for its title, ' Epilepsy and other Convulsive Affections, their 

 Pathology and Treatment : ' a theory, according to which, in every 

 case, pathological as well as physiological, muscular contraction is 

 produced, not by the stimulation of any vital property of con- 

 tractility belonging to muscle, but by the simple cessation of the 

 action of certain agents electricity, nervous influence, and others, 

 which had previously kept the muscle in a state of relaxation or 

 expansion." 



The following communications were also read : 



I. " On the Action of Carbonic Oxide on Sodium-alcohol." By 

 J. A. WANKLYN, Esq. Communicated by Professor E. 

 FRANKLAND. Received February 15, 1859. 



Dr. Geuther* found that sodium-alcohol ( 4 NaJ / 2 w ^ en 

 gently warmed in a stream of carbonic oxide, yielded not pre- 

 * Annalen der Chem. und Pharm. Jan. 1859. 



