PROVISION FOR PHYSICAL RESEARCH IN GREAT BRITAIN. 213 



Experiment 38. The two vagi nerves were exposed in the neck of a rabbit, 

 and on separately subjecting the trunk of each nerve to galvanic stimulation 

 of a certain strength (obtained by the use of Du Bois-Eeymond's induction- 

 apparatus), it was found that stoppage of the heart's contractions resulted on 

 each occasion during the five seconds the galvanic stimulation was applied. 

 A solution containing half a grain of sulphate of methyl-atropium in fifteen 

 minims of distilled water was then injected under the skin of the abdomen. 



5 minutes. . . . after the injection the heart was contracting 28 times in 10 seconds. 



' J> I) » ;> )) -° >} V 



7 mns. 10 sees. „ „ the right vagus was galvanized for 10 seconds, 



and the heart continued to contract during the 



galvauism 28 times in 10 seconds. 



10 minutes. .. . after the injection the heart was contracting 29 „ „ 



-'-•^ jt >j » ji » ^'J » )) 



20 ,, „ „ the left vagus was galvanized for 10 seconds, 



and the heart continued to contract during the 



galvanism 30 times in 10 seconds. 



20 mns. 20 sees, after the injection the heart was contracting .30 „ „ 



-'" » ^ )) )) t) -n )> "O ), ), 



20 „ 20 „ „ „ the right vagus was galvanized for 10 seconds, 



and the heart continued to contract dm'ing the 

 galvanism 30 times in 10 seconds. 



It was also found that the special actions on the pupils and on the cardiac 

 inhibitory branches of the vagi nerves are possessed by the ethyl derivative 

 of atropia. 



Report of a Committee, consisting of Lieut. -Col. Strange, F.R.S., 

 Professor Sir W. Thomson, F.R.S., Professor Tyndall, F.R.S., 

 Professor Frankland, F.R.S., Dr. Sten house, F./?.-S., Dr. Mann, 

 F.R.A.S., W. HuGGiNS, F.R.S., James Glaisher, F.R.S., Professor 

 Williamson, F.R.S., Professor Stokes, F.R.S., Professor Fleem- 

 ing Jenkin, F.R.S., Professor Hirst^ F.R.S., Professor Huxley, 

 F.R.S., and Dr. Balfour Stewart, F.R.S. *, appointed for the 

 purpose of inquiring into, and of reporting to the British Asso- 

 ciation the opinion at which they may arrive concerning the fol- 

 lowing questions : — 



I. Does there exist in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 

 Ireland sufficient provision for the vigorous prosecution of 

 Physical Research ? 

 II. If not, what further provision is needed ? and what measures 

 should be take?i to secure it ? 



Your Committee, having sought the counsel of many of the most eminent 

 men of science of the United Kingdom upon these questions, so far as it was 

 found practicable to do so, and having carefully deliberated thereon, have ar- 

 rived at the following conclusions : — 



I. That the provision now existing in the United Kingdom of Great Britain 



* The following names have since been added to the Committee :-^Alfred Tennyson, 

 F.R.S. ; Lyon Playfair, F.E.S., M.P. ; J. Norman Lockyer, F.E.S. 



