EFFECTS OF ELECTRICAL WAVES 485 
with the spinal cord. If the nerves are laid parallel to the 
spark discharge maximal effects are obtained when the 
muscle preparations lie in a symmetrical position with rela- 
tion to the two spheres of the discharger (Fig. 138), while 
every displacement of the preparation toward one side (Fig. 
139) diminishes the effects or causes them to cease entirely. 
FIG. 139 
If, on the other hand, the nerves of the muscle preparations 
are laid at a right angle to the spark discharge, minimal 
effects are obtained when the preparation lies in a position 
symmetrical with the two spheres of the discharger (Fig. 
140), while maximal effects are obtained when the muscle prep- 
arations are moved laterally a sufficient distance (Fig. 141). 
a + 
© O— 
FIG. 140 
+ 
+ 
+ 
The explanation which I gave of these phenomena was 
as follows: 
a) Let it be assumed that the two muscle preparations 
lie parallel to the spark discharge and in a position sym- 
metrical with reference to the discharger (Fig. 138). If at 
a certain time the one sphere of the discharger is charged 
positively, the other negatively, a corresponding distri- 
bution of the electricities is induced in the nerve-muscle 
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