1892.] Physiological Action of Nitrites of Paraffin Series. 91 



of solution, these complications are, to a large extent, avoided ; and, 

 as a matter of experiment, two fluid cells made up of metals immersed 

 each in its own fused chloride, give results nearer the theoretical 

 values than those obtained with aqueous solutions. This is specially 

 noticeable in the case of metals with high heats of oxidation as in the 

 case of magnesium and aluminium. 



The electromotive forces of cells containing pairs of the metals, 

 tin, lead, and zinc, come out nearest to the theoretical values. The 

 other metals which were tried did not give so close an agreement, 

 but can be brought into agreement by applying constant corrections, 

 one for each metal ; and reasons are given for attributing these 

 corrections to the high temperatures of the cells as compared with 

 the temperatures for which the recognised heats of combination are 

 true. 



Four of the cells were tested by passing currents through them in 

 both directions alternately, and noting the electromotive force after 

 the passage of each current. Polarisation was observed to a small 

 extent in one case zinc-silver; in the others it was practically 

 absent. 



IV. " The Physiological Action of the Nitrites of the Paraffin 

 Series considered in connexion with their Chemical Consti- 

 tution. Part II. Action of the Nitrites on Muscular Tissue 

 and Discussion of Results." By J. THEODORE CASH, M.D., 

 F.R.S., Professor of Materia JVIedica in the University of 

 Aberdeen, and WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, M.A., Professor of 

 Chemistry to the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. 

 Received June 15, 1892. 



(Abstract.) 



Continuing the examination of the physiological action of various 

 pure organic nitrites of the paraffin series (Part I ; ' Roy. Soc. Proc.,' 

 1891), the authors have studied their effect on striated muscular 

 tissue. When the vapours of these nitrites come into contact with 

 the muscle a paralysant effect is observed. All the experiments 

 were made with the triceps and gastrocnemius of Rana temporaria. 

 The muscle was contained in a specially constructed air-tight 

 chamber, which, whilst it admitted of connexion being made between 

 the muscle and the recording apparatus, rendered it possible to bring 

 into contact with the muscle the vapour of a known quantity of the 

 nitrite without any loss taking place. A very extensive series of 

 experiments was necessary, as it is unsafe to contrast the gastro- 

 cnemius of one frog with that of another, so that the action of every 



