158 NERVE FOECE. CHAP. XI. 



not allow them to take a too firm hold of om: minds, 

 so as to lead us to consider them as realities, but 

 merely suggestive, by leading to future experiments, 

 we may hope to arrive ultimately at some more 

 promising and positive results. 



The following conclusions may be deduced from 

 the present inquiry. 



First, That nerve force, during nerve action, is not 

 current force. 



Secondly, That the electric condition of the nerve, 

 as manifested by the nerve current, is not converted 

 during nerve actign into currrent force. 



Thirdly, That the electric condition of the nerve 

 may be merely a condition, and perhaps a necessary 

 condition, for the manifestation of nerve action. 



Fourthly, That the evidence in favour of nerve 

 force being polar, is shewn by the connection that 

 exists between the developement of the electric force 

 in the fish and its dependence upon the wiU of the 

 animal, and also in the connection between nerve 

 action and muscular action, the latter being regarded 

 as polar. 



Fifthly, That the whole of the evidence indicates 

 that nerve force is of a higher character than any of 

 the other known /or»is of polar force. And, 



Sixthly, The question, whether the electric force, 

 as it exists in the nerve, may not be converted into 

 nerve force during nerve action, may be considered 

 at present an open question. 



