278 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



were not characterised by an almost imperceptible motion 

 of a few muscular fibres, but were accompanied by the 

 simultaneous contractions of the different cavities. 



EXPERIMENT VII. 



In this experiment the positive wire was in contact with 

 the heart, and the negative alternately with the par vagum, 

 jugular rein, vena cava, mucous membrane of the nose, 

 and food in the stomach, and precisely the same results 

 took place as have been already stated. 



EXPERIMENT VIII. 



The heart being removed from the chest, and isolated as 

 before, a thread was tied round the remaining portion of 

 the aorta. The positive wire was connected with the heart, 

 and the negative with the thread, previously moistened. 

 The contractions in this experiment were more evident than 

 in the preceding examples. The free end of the thread was 

 afterwards placed in the centre of the food, and at the 

 same time that the negative wire was in contact with the 

 contents of the stomach, the positive still remaining in 

 connection with the heart, the contractions of this organ 

 were again as manifest as if the galvanic power had pass- 

 ed through the par vagum, or directly through the thread. 



Mr CHESTER, Mr KEMP, and Mr HARDY, assisted at 

 all the experiments contained in this chapter, with the 

 exception of Experiment IX. p. 269, and Mr BROOKS, 

 Dr SAVAGE, and Captain BROWN, the Conchologist, were 

 present at several of the experiments. 



From the preceding experiments and views, 

 we are authorised to draw the following conclu- 

 sions : 



