58 



IRRITABILITY 



the anodic and in less degree also those towards the cathodic 

 pole. This excitation, greatest at the time of "making" of the 

 current, though diminishing rapidly in intensity during its con- 

 tinuance, remains, however, to a less degree, and leads to a 

 progressive disintegration of the protoplasm on the side towards 

 the anode, which lasts until the current is again broken. (Figure 



--f- 





Fig. 6. 



Actinosphaerium eichhomii. Four stages showing the progressive influence 



of a constant current. Protoplasmic disintegration at 



the side toward the anode. 



6.) Thus even though there can be no doubt, on the one hand, 

 that the effect of stimulation, which appears at the moment of 

 the entrance, is to produce alterations, which develop very rapidly, 

 and that by a continuation of this state there is a more or less 

 rapid fall to a low level ; on the other hand, it is just as certain 

 that the alterations in the living system persist throughout the 

 duration of the changed external conditions, or to put it more 



