CHAPTER XX 



THE THEORY OF ELECTRIC ORGANS 



Existing theories Their inadequacy The 'blaze-current' so called Response 

 uni-directioned, to shocks homodromous or heterodromous, characteristic of 

 electric organs Similar results with inorganic specimens Uni-directioned 

 response due to differential excitability - Electrical response of pulvinus of 

 Mimosa to equi -alternating electric shocks Response of petiole of Musa 

 Of plagiotropic stem of Cucurbila Of Eel The organ-current of electric 

 fishes Multiple responses of electrical organ Multiple responses of 

 Biophytum. 



ONE of the most perplexing problems in connection with 

 the phenomena of electrical organs is the question as to 

 whether the activity of such organs is specific that is to say, 

 peculiarly characteristic of them or falls into line with the 

 other electro-motive reactions observed in animal tissue. 

 Many arguments have been brought forward for and against 

 the identity of these phenomena with the excitatory reactions 

 of the nerve and muscle. 



From the experimental results which I have described, 

 however, it would already appear that such reactions as these 

 of the electrical organ are not specifically characteristic; even 

 of the animal structure, but may equally well be observed in 

 plant tissues. It is therefore essential, if we are to determine 

 that basic reaction which is common to all alike, that we 

 should find a wider generalisation than has hitherto been 

 contemplated. This basic reaction, as we have already seen, 

 depends upon the differential excitability of an anisotropic 

 organ, and this aspect of the case we are now about to study 

 in greater detail. Before doing this, however, we shall briefly 

 glance at various theories which have been suggested, but are 

 generally admitted to be inadequate. 



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