XXXV 
THE TOXIC AND THE ANTITOXIC EFFECTS OF IONS 
AS A FUNCTION OF THEIR VALENCY AND POS- 
SIBLY THEIR ELECTRICAL CHARGE’ 
I. INTRODUCTION 
Five years ago I published a series of papers on the 
physiological effects of the electric current which impressed 
upon me the long-known fact that the galvanic current is the 
most universal and effective stimulus for life-phenomena. 
This fact suggested the idea that it should be possible to 
influence life-phenomena just as universally and effectively 
by the electrically charged molecules—the ions—as we can 
influence them by the electric current. 
My first aim was to find out whether or not it is possible 
to alter the physiological properties of tissues by artificially 
changing the proportion of ions contained in these tissues. 
In this way originated the investigations on the effect of ions 
upon the absorption of water by muscles,’ the effects of ions 
upon the rhythmical contractions of muscles, and Meduse,’ 
the heart of the turtle,* and the lymph hearts® of the frog, 
the réle of ions in chemotropic phenomena’ and the influence 
of ions upon embryonic development,’ and the development 
1 American Journal of Physiology, Vol. VI (1902), p. 411. A preliminary report 
of these experiments appeared in Pyliigers Archiv fiir die gesammte Pysiologie, 
Vol. LXXXVIII (1901), p. 68. 
'2Part II, pp. 450, 501, and 510. 
3Part II, pp. 518, 559, and 692; Archiv fiir die gesammte Physiologie, Vol. LXXX 
(1900), p. 229. 
4D. J. Lineuez, American Journal of Physiology, Vol. IV (1900), p. 265. 
5 A. Moors, ibid., p. 386. 
6 W. E. GARREY, ibid., Vol. III (1900), p. 291. 
7 Part II, pp. 559 and 576. 
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