344 Assimilation 
elemental accumulator of nervous energy in continual 
charge and discharge. 
As will be noted we have here a phenomenon in some 
respects similar to the electric resonators of Hertz, in 
which an electric discharge caused by the difference of 
potential existing between the two armatures of a con- 
denser, is transformed into an oscillatory discharge. It 
will be appropriate here to indicate briefly in just what 
this phenomenon consists. 
A D B Let A and B be the armatures 
of a charged condenser which are 
suddenly connected with each 
Zo other by an external conductor, 
vu ArMLB, in such a way that the 
latter makes a circuit open only at 
the point D of the di-electric. In 
L the accompanying figure r repre- 
sents the total resistance of the 
circuit, and L the inductance or co- 
efficient of self induction of this 
circuit. When the capacity c of 
M the condenser and the inductance 
L of the circuit are in a certain 
relation to each other, and r is small, we can get an oscillatory dis- 
charge which forms as it were a sinusoidal alternating current; that 
is the electricity oscillates from A toward B and from B toward A, 
with a frequency determined by the inductance L and the capacity 
c. If we cause the resistance r of the circuit to become constantly 
less by employing wires of constantly increasing thickness, we 
approach the boundary at which this oscillation will be able of itself 
to continue indefinitely. 
If in this case, where r is very small, we excite in the 
circuit by induction sinusoidal alternating electro-motive 
forces of the same frequence as in the oscillatory dis- 
charge, then there will arise in A and B differences of 
very many volts even though the number of volts so 
induced is small. 
Upon this principle depends, as is well known, the 
