CHAP. IX. MUSODLAE AND NERVOUS TISSUE. 93 



In the following experiments, the current either 

 from 1, 3, or 6 of Grove's middling- size cells was 

 passed through a detached muscle, or a portion of 

 the sciatic nerve, the platinum electrodes heing so 

 arranged, that the anode or platinum extremity was 

 in contact with the base or transverse section of the 

 fibre, and the cathode or zinc extremity in contact 

 with the external or longitudinal surface ; the direction 

 of the current being in accordance with the normal 

 direction of the muscular or nerve current, or that 

 which is called the inverse current. The muscle or 

 nerve, which was from rabbits, guinea-pigs, and 

 frogs, was placed upon two pieces of glass, separated 

 from each other, so that the current should traverse 

 the substance of the tissue ; but how far it was 

 conducted by the surface and not by the fibre alone, 

 may be a question difficult to decide. 



The normal effect of the muscular or nerve current 

 was first ascertained and noted ; the former amount- 

 ing to 4° or 5°, the latter to 2° or 3°, depending, 

 however, upon the state of the nerve or muscle, and 

 also of the animal. The current from the battery 

 was allowed to pass along the fibre for different 

 periods of time, when the effect upon the muscular 

 or nerve current was then examined. 



The effects, generally speaking, were as follow : 



With the current from one cell, after it had passed 

 five minutes, the amount both of the muscular and 

 nerve current was slightly diminished ; after ten 

 minutes, the nerve current was not obtained, the 



