96 Freezing of Nerve, with Special Reference to Fatigability 



A rest of ten minutes was now given, and the nerve once more subjected 

 to regular series of centrally applied rhythmical stimulations. The intensity 

 was much lower than that previously employed, being 30 units instead of 

 500, and 3^et the same effect as before was repeated, the nerve ultimately 

 ceasing to conduct. A rest of four minutes suffices to restore the con- 

 ductivity in some measure — tracing 4. Peripheral stimulation this time, 

 however, does not absolutely abolish conductivity, possibly because the 

 intensity of stimulation is low. The nerve, however, soon ceases to conduct 

 when repeatedly stimulated. 



Now, in this experiment we can throughout watch the gradual fatigue 

 of the nerve as it is subjected to successive series of stimulations. With 

 each more or less prolonged rest it recovers to a certain extent, to break 

 down whenever regular series of stimulations are again applied. 



Nerve which has been frozen and thawed again is readily 

 fatigued by means of rapid rhythmical stimulation. As a rule 

 the fatigue is short-lasting, and on cessation of the stimulation 

 recovery occurs with great rapidity. In some cases, however, 

 recovery may be delayed for a considerable period. 



REFERENCES. 



(1) Tait, "The Influence of Low Temperatures on Nerve," Proc. Physiol. Soc, 

 Jour, of Physiol., vol. xxxiv., 1906. 



(2) Tait, "Fatigue of Medullated Nerve by the Method of Cooling," Zeitschr. 

 f. allgem. Physiol., vol. viii., 1908. 



(3) BoRUTTAU, "Beitrage zur allgemeinen Nerven- und Muskelphysiologie," 

 Arch. f. d. ges. Physiol., vol. Ixv., p. 11, 1897. 



(4) PiCTET, Kaoul, "Das Leben und die niederen Temperaturen," in Revue 

 scientifique, 52, 1893. 



(5) Boycott, " On the Influence of Temperature on the Conductivity of Nerve," 

 Jour, of Physiol., vol. xxvii., p. 488, 1901-2. 



(6) Howell, Text-Book of Physiology, 1906, p. 109. 



(7) Pfeffee, "Physiology of Plants," trans, by A. J. Ewart, vol. ii., 1903, p. 239. 



(8) DuRiG, " Wassergehalt und Organfunktion," Arch. f. d. ges. Physiol., vol. 

 Ixxxv., p. 401, vol. Ixxxvii., p. 42, vol. xcii., p. 293. 



(9) Wedexsky, "Die fundanientalen Eigenschaften des Nerven unter Einwerk- 

 ung einiger Gifte," Arch. f. d. ges. Physiol., vol. Ixxxii., p. 134, 1900; "Die 

 Erregung, Hemmung und Narkose," Arch. f. d. ges. Physiol., vol. c, p. 1, 1903. 



(10) Frohlich, "Die Erniiidung des markhaltigen Nerven," Zeitschr. f. allgem 

 Physiol., vol. iii., p. 468, 1903-4. 



The expenses of this research were defrayed partly by a grant from the Carnegie 

 Trustees and partly by a grant from the Crichton Research Scholarship Fund of 

 Edinburgh University. 



