1882.J Multiplication of Elliptic Functions. 277 



We bad -~ = \f'3, and a, wa, (o 2 a the parameters of the elliptic 

 A 



functions of the third kind in the reduction of the integral 



f * 



4> (z) dz 

 ( z *-l)\j(z>-b 3 ) 



and it will be an interesting subject of enquiry to determine the 

 simplest form of the integrals which reduce to elliptic integrals 

 of the third kind in which 



_ = ^5, */7, V15,... 

 and the parameters involve the corresponding complex multipliers. 



(2) On certain points in the function of the cardiac muscle. By 

 W. H. Gaskell, M.D., F.R.S. 



Part I. On the rhythmical .properties of the cardiac muscle. 



In a former paper 1 I have described experiments which brought 

 me to the conclusion that the beat of the frog's heart was depen- 

 dent on separate impulses proceeding from the sinus to the auricles 

 and ventricle and travelling along distinct nerve paths. Also, the 

 modifications of the sequence of ventricular upon auricular beat 

 caused by various methods of procedure, such as tightening the 

 clamp between auricle and ventricle, heating the auricles and 

 sinus, the application of various poisons &c, were all discussed on 

 the supposition that a contraction can only occur when a certain 

 relation exists between the strength of the impulse and the excita- 

 bility of the muscular tissue. 



In a subsequent paper' 2 I have shown by experiments upon 

 the heart of the tortoise that the conception of separate impulses 

 passing from the sinus to the auricles and ventricle is unnecessary, 

 and that all the variations of sequence observed in the case of the 

 frog as well as those noticed in the tortoise, are to be explained by 

 the more or less complete blocking of a contraction-wave, which 

 starting at the sinus passes over the auricles and when it reaches 

 the ventricle causes a contraction there. I still however imagined 

 that the mediation of some nervous apparatus such as ganglion 

 colls was involved in the transference of the contraction from 

 auricle to ventricle. 



Finally in a paper 3 read before the British Medical Association 

 last August, I showed that no need exists for the intervention of 



1 Phil, Traits. 1882. 2 Joum. Physiol. Vol. in. p. 3G9. 



3 British Med. Joum. 1882, p. 572. 



