B. THE GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY OF MUSCLE AND 

 NERVE TISSUE. 



HI. Demonstration : a, Elements and conductors; b, Keys; 



c, The commutator; d, Work done; e, Elec= 



trical units. 



The function of muscle tissue is to contract. Skeletal 

 muscles contract only in response to stimuli. Stimuli may 

 act upon the muscle tissue direct stimulation or upon 

 the motor nerve which supplies the muscle indirect stimu- 

 lation. To study the functions of muscle and nerve tissue 

 one requires to have at command various methods of stim- 

 ulation. It is usual to apply mechanical, thermal, 

 chemical and electrical stimulation. Experience has 

 shown that of all these means electricity is the most valu- 

 able, because it is subject to the greatest number of varia- 

 tions in strength and in method of application. Before 

 entering upon a study of the responses of irritable tissues 

 to electrical stimuli it is essential to make a short study 

 of the appliances used. As many of these appliances 

 have been used by the student in the physical laboratory 

 it will be taken for granted that he is familiar with the 

 principles involved in their use. 



I. Appliances. 2 Daniell elements or cells; wires; contact 

 key; Du Bois Reymond key; mercury key; commuta- 



