CHAP. IX. 



ON THE POLARIZED CONDITION OF THE MUSCULAR AND 

 OF THE NERVOUS TISSUE IN THE LIVING OB. RECENTLY 

 KILLED ANIMAL. MUSCULAR FORCE AND NERVE 

 FORCE, POLAR FORCES. 



Having arrived at the conclusion, in the last 

 chapter, that the muscular and nervous tissues are, 

 during life, in a peculiar electrical state or condition, 

 and which has been termed polarized, the following 

 question naturally arises. Can this state, dependent 

 as it evidently is upon nutrition, be iruyreased by any 

 artificial means? That it may be diminished or 

 easily destroyed is to be inferred from the fact, that 

 whatever interferes with the proper nutrition of a 

 muscle or nerve, or disorganizes their structure, 

 whether by mechanical or chemical agencies, destroys 

 also the conditions upon which the eadstence of the 

 muscular or nerve currents depends; and it is, it 

 may be observed, from the manifestation of these 

 currents that the existence of this polarized con- 

 dition is inferred. It is reasonable, therefore, to 

 suppose, that it might be by the employment of the 

 electric force (or current) that we should perhaps 

 obtain some evidence to assist in solving this 

 problem. 



In considering the question of the influence of 

 electricity upon the musculsir and nervous tissues, 



