134 NEEVE FOECE. CHAP. XI. 



be seen, that some of the most difficult physiological 

 problems are now presented for our consideration; 

 and although we might not be enabled to succeed in 

 solving them to the extent we could wish, it is to be 

 hoped that the attempt will be neither useless nor 

 unprofitable. 



The first question that will arise is the following : 

 Can we detect any manifestation of cueeeht foece in 

 nerves dueing nerve action ? 



It will be necessary to make a few preliminary 

 observations respecting the employment of the terms 

 nerve action and nerve current. 



The fact that current force exists in a nerve is 

 well known, and may be shewn, as was first pointed 

 out by Du Bois Eetmond, by placing the electrodes 

 of a galvanometer, one in contact with the tranverse 

 section of the nerve, and the other in contact with 

 the longitudinal section or side of the nerve : this 

 has been designated as the nerve current. So far 

 this nerve current does not differ fi:om that which hafe 

 been called the muscular current, and which may be 

 obtained in the muscle in the same manner. I have 

 been led to consider, that this so-called nerve current 

 is dependent upon nutrition. It does not aflford direat 

 evidence that the force which exists in the nerve as 

 nerve force, and which may be supposed to be trans- 

 mitted from one part of the system to another along 

 the nerve, is current force: it only proves that the nerve 

 tissue, lilce the muscular tissue, is in an electric 

 condition — a condition no doubt necessary and 



