The electrical phenomena accompanying secretion. Ii'l 



all of the above conditions influence to some extent the amount and 

 siign of the existing current, but reviewing all the above facts and 

 also the effects of nerve-exitation we still hold that the resting current 

 is due mainy to active processes within the gland- cells. 



There are certain objections to this view and particularly the 

 following. The resting current in the cat's submaxillary is usually 

 opposite in sign to that of the dog, on the other hand in the parotid 

 of the dog the resting current is of the same sign as in the sub- 

 maxillary of the same animal, so far as we have yet seen, although 

 the number of observations we have made on the parotid is too few to 

 draw positive conclusions with regard to this point. But if it should 

 so turn out viz : that the resting current in the parotid of the dog is 

 the same as in the submaxillary, and therefore the opposite of that 

 in the submaxillary of the cat, it is certainly remarkable; since the 

 difference in structure between the parotid and submaxillary of the 

 dog is presumably quite as great as the difference in structure between 

 the submaxillary of the cat and dog. For the difference between the 

 parotid and submaxillary of the dog in the nature of the cells and in 

 their secretion is a difference in kind, the one being a serous and the 

 other a mucous gland, whereas the difference between the submaxillary 

 glands in the dog and cat, is rather a difference in degree, both being 

 mucous glands. And it must be admitted that it is improbable there 

 should be a difference in the electrical conditions of the resting gland 

 in the one case and not in the other, if this electrical condition be 

 due to the morphological nature of the individual cells. Although 

 therefore as above stated we incline to the belief that the resting 

 current is due to processes going on within the gland-cells, we would 

 expressly state that the evidence as yet adduced in favour of this 

 view is not conclusive. 



Changes produced in the electrical condition of the 

 submaxillary gland on nerve excitation. 



Dog. Chorda tympani. — We will now pass to the consideratiou 

 of the electrical phenomena which occur on stimulation of the gland 

 nerves, and in as much as those are most easily demonstrated that 

 occur on stimulation of the chorda of the dog we will commence with 



