OHAP. IV. DUEING SEOEBTION. 27 



ascertain the truth of this supposition, I now inserted 

 the two platinum extremities of the electrodes of a 

 galvanometer into the portal vein, and as far apart 

 as possible, in. order to obtain the supposed diverted 

 current; but no effect was observed. The electrodes 

 were then inserted, one into the portal vein, the other 

 into the hepatic vein, still no effect. 



PouiLLET' and Mullek', it may be observed, had 

 previously ascertained that no effect occurred when 

 they inserted one electrode into an artery, and the 

 other into a vein, of a living animal. 



No evidence could be obtained from these experi- 

 ments indicative of the path of the current; the 

 galvanic circle was therefore not complete; and 

 some of the essential conditions were evidently 

 wanting. 



Eepeating the experiments of Matteucci upon 

 other animals than rabbits, the effects observed by 

 Matteuoci were not always obtained; as these re- 

 sults will again come under consideration, they need 

 not now detain us. 



Pondering over these failures, it soon became 

 evident that more correct notions in regard to the 

 origin of the power in the voltaic circle were re- 

 quisite; the term current also, with its ordinary 

 associations, (of something flowing in one direction,) 

 was a source of great embarrassment; and it was 



' Journal de Physiologie, torn. v. p. 5. 



f MoiiEE's Physiology, translated by Baly, vol. i. p. 148. 

 iid edit. 



