82 _ General Notes. [January, 
The movements were determined by measuring the angles 
through which a limb was turned, and also by obtaining ona 
rotating cylinder a graphic tracing representing the rate and ex- 
tent of the muscular change. A dog was killed on October 6th, 
and on the 15th one hind limb was fastened in extension and 
, 
17th, 16°; the 22d, 12°; the 25th, 21°; the 28th, 23°; the 30th, 
18°; the 31st, 20°; November 4th, 23°. The rigidity still per- 
sisted on November 8th when the observations were described. 
These movements are absolutely independent of external con- 
ditions, temperature, moisture, etc. In fact, in the same animal, 
while some of the rigid muscles are elongating, others are con- 
tracting and still others are at rest. Professor Brown-Sequard 
comesto the startling conclusion that these movements prove that 
the muscles in rigor mortis are not dead, but are still endowed with 
vital powers, but, however, are in a certain chemical condition 
which is antecedent and preparatory to final death.— Comptes 
Rendus, T. ci, p. 926. 
GLANDULAR AND VASO-MOTOR FIBERS OF THE CHORDA TYMPANI 
AND GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NERVES.— Professor Vulpian has renewed 
after a new method his researches on this important and difficult 
subject. Curarised dogs were operated on in such a way that the 
cranial nerves could be stimulated by an induction current at their 
points of origin within the skull. The nerves were usually laid 
intact upon the electrodes; reflex effects failed, probably because 
the appropriate nerve centers were injured in the operation. 
M. Vulpian concludes that both the glandular and the vaso-dila- 
tor fibers of the chorda tympani leave the medulla with the facial 
but none of them come from the trigeminal nerve. It is certain, 
apparently, that the chorda tympani, besides its glandular and 
. vaso-dilator filaments, supplies to a large extent the anterior two- 
thirds of the tongue with sensory nerves of taste. 
Stimulation of the facial nerve at its origin causes an abundant 
flow of saliva from the sub-maxillary gland on the same side, but 
none from the parotid gland, and intense congestion of the an- 
terior two-thirds of the corresponding side of the tongue. Stim- 
ulation of the glossopharyngeal nerve at its foramen of exit from 
the skull causes congestion in the posterior third of the tongue 
on the same side and secretion from the corresponding parotid 
gland. When the trigeminal nerve is excited in the same way, 
no secretion is obtained, nor is there any vaso-motor change in the 
mucous membrane of the tongue. , 
The geniculate ganglion is a trophic center for the chorda : 
tympani, for, after intra-cranial section of the facial nerve, the 
fibers of the chorda contained in the latter remain intact while 
all the others degenerate. we 
