128 VIS NERVOSA ELECTRICITY. 



vital principle, and the assumption of a specific mode of 

 molecular motion, in addition to those distinct forms 

 of current force already but not so very long known, 

 viz., electricity, galvanism, and magnetism. Thus, 

 rejecting the other theories, Dr. Beale plainly adopts 

 the proposition that the nerve force is simply electri- 

 city and nothing -else. The arguments in favour of 

 this idea have been long known, but Dr. Beale sums 

 them up as follows : 



"The general arrangement of the fibres and cells in all 

 central and peripheral nerve organs ; the structure and arrange- 

 ment, with respect to one another, of all nerve fibres which 

 pass through a considerable distance before they reach their 

 destination ; the manner in which nerves act upon contractile 

 tissues, and the circumstance that a current of electricity pro- 

 duces a similar action ; and the fact that electricity is set free 

 in special organs which are very rich in nerves, but which do 

 not differ in any essential particulars in ultimate arrangement 

 from other nerve organs in which electricity is not set free, render 

 it probable, as it seems to me, that the current transmitted by 

 the axis cylinder is ordinary electricity, and that all the effects 

 produced upon other tissues depend upon the transmission 

 through nerve fibres of currents of electricity varying in inten- 

 sity" ("Monthly Microscopical Journal," 1872, p. 176). 



Bioplasm of the nerve tissue does not differ much from other 

 bioplasm, and it is probable that " considering the character 

 and arrangement of the bioplasm matter, and its relation to 

 the formed material in all tissues, it is not unreasonable to 

 conclude that currents, and perhaps of the same nature as 

 those discharged by the nerve organs, are set free, but that it 

 is only in the case of nerve that an arrangement exists suitable 

 for insulating the currents, and for rendering evident varia- 

 tions in their intensity, rate of transmission, &c." 



The arguments against the electrical theory of the 

 vis nervosa are summed up by De Bois Reymond : 



