ON VAGUS CURRENTS EXAMINED WITH THE STRING GAL- 

 VANOMETER. By W. EiXTHOVEN (in collaboration with A. Flohil 

 and P. J. T. A. Battaerd). (From the Physiological Laboratory of 

 Leyden. ) 



{Received for publication 6tli July 1908.) 



The demarcation current which may be derived from the peripheral end of 

 a divided vagus nerve shows a negative variation whenever the lungs are 

 expanded. This phenomenon was lirst demonstrated by Lewandowsky^ 

 with the aid of a Deprez-d'Arsonval galvanometer; later Alcock and 

 Seemann- studied it more in detail with the capillary electrometer. 

 In a research made by means of the string galvanometer we have been 

 able completely to confirm the results of the above-mentioned authors, and 

 also to obtain evidence of the presence of another source of stimuli 



Figure showing the electrical changes in the vagus nen'e which accom- 

 pany the respiratory and heart movements. 



V, electrovagogram ; ;;, respiration record (ascent of curve, inspiration; descent, 

 expiration) ; c, pulse record. 



situated in the heart — the vagus shows rliythmic action currents which 

 synchronise with the heart-beats. 



A vagus nerve in the neck of an anaesthetised dog is isolated for a con- 

 siderable distance and divided at a spot high up in the neck. The current 

 is led ofi" from the peripheral cut end of the nerve by means of a pair of 

 non-polarisable electrodes, one of which is brought in contact with the cross- 

 section, the other with the surface, the space between the electrodes being 



' Max Lewandowsky, " Ueber Schwankungen des Vagusstromea bei Voluniander- 

 ungen der Lunge," Pfliiser's Arch. f. d. ges. Physiol., Bd. Ixxiii., S. 288, 1898. 



- N. H. Alcock aim John Seeiuann, " Ueber die neg-alive Scliwaukung in den Lungen- 

 fasern des Vagus," PHiiger's Arch. f. d. ges. Physiol., Bd. cviii., S. 426, 1905. 



VOL. I., XO. .-3. — 1908. 17 



