On the " Blaze-currents " of the Gall Bladder of the Frog. 423 



" On the ' Blaze-currents ' of the Gall Bladder of the Frog." By 

 ALICE M. WALLER. Communicated by AUGUSTUS D. WALLER, 

 M.D., F.RS. Eeceived December 1, 1904, Eead January 26, 

 1905. 



(From the Physiological Research Laboratory of the University of London.) 



This investigation is a continuation of Dr. Waller's work on the 

 electrical responses to stimulation exhibited by animal and vegetable 

 living tissues, which responses he has designated " Blaze-currents."* 



I have employed the method already described by him at length, in 

 the University Series of Lectures entitled " Signs of Life."f 



After examining many tissues and organs from the frog and cat, niy 

 attention was directed particularly to the liver of the frog, which one 

 would naturally expect to display signs of activity ; not obtaining very 

 large responses from the liver, I tested the gall bladder, and to my 

 surprise, observed large electrical variations which occur regularly and 

 without fail, and may be noticed as long as 24 hours post mortem 

 ranee. 



The frog is killed ; the liver and gall bladder are taken out and 

 placed on a glass plate ; unpolarisable electrodes are applied to the 

 liver or gall bladder! The electrodes are always previously tested, and 

 are made so that they give no response to electrical stimulus. 



The liver is found to give antidrome currents except when the 

 electrodes are placed one on the surface and one at the hilum ; in this 

 case the responsive current runs from the surface to hilum. 



Excitation by Single Break Induction Shocks from Berne Coil. 



Liver (March 9). 



Strength of excitation. Eesponse. 



Coil at 5000 + gave - 0'0005 volt. Liver placed between electrodes 



- +0-0003 with under surface upwards 

 10000- +0-0010 



+ -0-0013 



* 'Phil. Trans./ B, vol. 194, p. 184, December, 1900 ; 'Roy. Soc. Proc.,' vol. 68, 

 p. 79, January, 1901. 



f * Signs of Life,' published by John Murray, 1903, for the University of 

 London. 



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