182 CONOLDSION. CHAP. XIH. 



electric force, and not to a disorganization of the 

 tissue -which I have supposed it to he, then we get 

 evidence of the conversion, as it were, of the electric 

 force into nerve force. We need not expect to have 

 any great effect upon, or any great loss in, the nerve 

 current, as an equivalent during this conversion. The 

 quantity of electricity associated with a grain of 

 water, and evolved during its decomposition, its 

 equivalent, when existing in the static form, as in a 

 charged Leyden jar, equals that of a violent thimder- 

 storm ; and so in regard to nerve force the electricity 

 manifested as nerve cun-ent, a loss only of 3° or 4° 

 might he equivalent to its conversion into nerve 

 force, but then I think we have a right to expect, 

 that the decrease in the nerve current, to whatever 

 amount it might be, ought to be sudden and 

 definite. 



The same arguments and the same reasons may 

 be applied to muscular action; the loss which 

 occurs in the muscular current during muscular 

 contraction may be accounted for, by the electricity 

 becoming free ; and there is also a developement of 

 heat manifested at the same time ; but in the nerves 

 there is no manifestation of any electricity becoming 

 free. The questions may arise, whether in the 

 action of nerve force apon muscular force it is the 

 conversion of nerve force into electric force that 

 becomes manifested, or whether it is the electric 

 force of the muscular tissue that is evolved. And in 

 regard to the fish, the same question may be put, 



