46 CURRENT FORCE CHAP. IV. §. V. 



detain us. One circumstance, however, is well 

 known, viz. that carbon, in some form or other, is 

 eliminated from the hlood during its passage through 

 the lungs ; and it may so happen, that during the 

 elimination of this carbon, its separation from the 

 venous blood whilst traversing the lungs, that 

 current electricity becomes manifested. 



Sect. V. On the Manifestation of Current Force 

 during Respiration. 

 When one electrode is brought into contact with 

 the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes, and the 

 other inserted into the left ventricle of the heart, the 

 latter electrode is positive to the former from 2° to 5°. 

 When the electrode, instead of being inserted into 

 the left ventricle was inserted into the right ventricle, 

 it still indicated a positive state. Here then are 

 indications of the arterial blood being positive to the 

 mucous surface of the lungs : how far this state may 

 be due to the separation of the carbon from the venous 

 blood which traversed that organ may be a subject 

 of dispute ; the fact, however, is of some importance, 

 as indicating the electric condition of the arterial 

 blood. 



In looking back upon the results that have now 

 been obtained, some surprise may be felt at the 

 circumstance, that all these experiments tend to 

 indicate that, during life, the blood, whether venous 

 or arterial, is in a positive electrical state or con- 



