122 



ELECTRO-PHYSIOLOGY 



CHAP. 



so effectual!} 7 in tetanus, because in some measure it forms its own 

 support, and carries itself" (Fig 55). 



In detail, we find many variations with regard to alteration 



FIG. 55. a, Gastrocneinius (Frog); single twitches, tetanus, and group of supported twitches, 

 loaded at 10 '5 gr. ; b, the same at 0*5 gr. loading, (v. Frey.) 



of height in a series of supported twitches. The highest summit 

 of the curve either coincides with the highest adjustment of the 

 supporting screw (as in the above example), or it may be reached 



earlier, in which case the 

 height of the twitches sinks 

 again with further increased 

 propping. Finally, there is 

 the case in which height of 

 twitch at first increases with 

 regular progressive support, 

 then decreases and finally 

 rises again to the highest 

 increment, so that the func- 

 tion has two maxima (v. 

 Frey, 10-12) (Fig. 56). 



These relations also are 

 expressed in certain forms 

 of tetanus curves with two and three summits. 



All these facts relate to the proportionately loaded muscle. 

 With very light loading, on the other hand, the supporting 



FIG. 56. Curarised muscle ; series of twitches with 

 varying support; load, 6 grs. ; stimulation inter- 

 val, 1 sec. (v. Frey.) 



