LECT. IX. MUSCULAR PILE. 181 



would have seen, as usual, first, the signs of a current di- 

 rected from the internal to the external part of the muscle, 

 but less distinctly than in the living animal ; here, also, great 

 uncertainty exists; our experiments are not conclusive. 

 There is, then, some defect in this mode of proceeding, and 

 every philosopher accustomed to manipulations with the 

 galvanometer will perceive this defect, and will recognise 

 the causes of it. 



In one of my works, entitled, Traite surles Phenomenes 

 Electro-physiologiques des vflnimauXj I have dwelt with some 

 prolixity on the manner of applying the galvanometer to the 

 study of the electric phenomena of animals, but it would 

 occupy too much time to repeat here what I have there 

 stated. 



I shall content myself with having shown you that I have 

 succeeded in proving, by the aid of the galvanometer, the 

 existence of the muscular current, and in discovering its 

 fundamental laws. 



Muscular Pile. I take five or six frogs prepared after the 

 manner (already mentioned) of Galvani ; I cut them in halves, 

 separate the thighs from the legs by disarticulation, and di- 

 vide the thighs transversely into two parts. I thus obtain a 

 certain number of the halves of thighs, from amongst which 

 Fi 2 . 11. 



The Muscular Pile. 



A. Positive end of the pile formed by the external surface of the muscle. 



B. Negative end of the pile formed by the internal surface of the muscle. 

 The arrow indicates the direction of the current in the pile. 



I select those only which belong to the lower portion ; I 

 arrange this series of demi-thighs upon a varnished tray, in 

 which are some cup-shaped depressions or cavities. The 

 preceding figure will show the arrangement. 



