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subject was one of great interest, and that Dr Foster appeared 
‘to have clearly shewn that the raising the temperature of the 
blood had affected the reflex excitability of the spimal chord, 
and regretted that Dr Foster had not carried his experiments 
further and applied them tomammals. For example reflex action 
in human beings in cases of fainting was increased by sudden 
cold—again, increase of temperature of blood (as in fever) 
lowered the nerve power—this seemed to correspond with the 
result obtained by Dr Foster. This depression might result 
from: wear and tear of system, as had often been suggested ; 
but it seemed possible to connect it with the results. of Dr 
Foster's experiments. Again, it might be possible to discover 
in this way something with reference to the treatment of 
tetanus, at present so difficult and inscrutable a malady. He 
thought it would be well to see how far the nerve power in 
frogs with brains was affected by raising the temperature of 
blood. 
_ Mr Trorrer enquired if Dr Foster had estimated the 
amount of heating produced on the spinal chord when one 
leg only was immersed, and whether that required raising to 
a higher temperature to produce reflex action. 
PROFESSOR MAXWELL mentioned that the effect of cooling 
certain nerves had been to quicken the circulation. 
Dr Foster said that these’ experiments belonged to a 
different class of facts to those which he had ‘described. With 
regard to Mr Trotter's question, he had not been able after 
several experiments to arrive at any very satisfactory results. 
It was very difficult to get the frog properly placed. He did 
not think that any very practical result would come with regard 
to tetanus, for a bath of high enough temperature to affect the 
spinal cord would probably affect the respiratory functions also. 
The cause of the lowering of nerve power in fever had yet to be 
explained. tye 
