UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS 



IN 



ZOOLOGY 



Vol. 18, No. 8, pp. 135-144, 1 figure in text January 10, 1918 



THE FUNCTION OF THE GIANT FIBERS 

 IN EARTHWORMS 



BY 



JOHN F. BOVAED 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 



Introduction : 136 



I. General functions of the nerve cord 136 



1. Biedermann's theory 136 



2. Muscle not responsible for rhythmic movements 136 



3. Friedlander 's theory of giant fiber action 136 



Materials and methods 137 



I. Material used 137 



II. Methods used 137 



1. Simple transection 137 



2. Eemoval of short sections of the cord 137 



.3. Effects of the operation and recovery 138 



Eegeneration experiments 138 



I. Effects of simple transverse section 138 



1. Eecovery of activity of locomotor fibers 139 



2. Eecovery of activity of giant fibers 139 



II. Eemoval of short pieces of the cord 140 



1. Eecovery of locomotor fiber activity 141 



2. Eecovery of giant fiber activity 142 



III. Comparison of results with those of Straub and Friedlander 142 



Experiments with stovaine 143 



I. Methods 143 



II. Eecovery from effects of drugs 143 



1. Behavior of the locomotor fibers 143 



2. Behavior of the giant fibers 143 



Summary 144 



Literature Cited .. 144 



