675 



charged, and is capable of inducing the phenomena of voltaism in 

 other nerves. 



" 2. This state is inducible hj momentary and slight voltaic cur- 

 rents. 



" S. It is more inducible by the reverse than by the direct vol- 

 taic current, as stated by others. 



" 4. When a nerve forms a part of the voltaic circle, new and 

 superadded circles may be effected, which, by inducing a change in 

 the condition of the first, result in the phenomena of muscular con- 

 tractions. 



" 5. V/hen the voltaic . circle is either complete, or, being com- 

 pleted, is broken, and various parts of the wires and animal tissues 

 which form or formed that circle are connected by a conductor, a 

 series of phenomena is produced, some of which still require ex- 

 planation. 



" 6. It is also important, especially in a medical point of view, to 

 observe the manner and degree in which the vis nervosa and the 

 vis muscularis are diminished by repeated voltaic action." 



In conclusion the author observes, " I have purposely and care- 

 fully avoided all theoretical views, confining myself to the accurate 

 detail of experiments. The condition induced in the nervous system 

 by a current of voltaism I have denominated the electrogenic. It 

 might be viewed as one of polarization, its discharge one of depo- 

 larization. But I have nothing to add to these views, beyond what 

 is universally known. The phenomena of the continuous, inter- 

 rupted, and sudden discharge of the electrogenic condition, have 

 not, I believe, been traced and detailed before." 



May 20, 1847. 



The MARQUIS OF NORTHAMPTON, President, in the Chair. 



A paper was read, entitled " On the Nervous System of the 

 Heart." By Robert Lee, M.D., RR.S, 



The author premises a historical notice of the various opinions 

 entertained by distinguished anatomists respecting the nerves of the 

 heart; some having maintained that the human heart is copiously 

 supplied with nerves, and others that it has few or none. In Sep- 

 - tember 1846, the author resolved to dissect^ under the microscope, 

 the nerves of the heart while covered with alcohol, as he had done 

 those of the uterus. His examinations of the foetal heart, of the 

 heart of a child at the age^ of six years, of the heart of an adult 

 in the sound state, of the human heart greatly hypertrophied, and 

 of the heart of the ox, warrant, he thinks, the following conclusions : — 

 1st, that the blood-vessels and the muscular structure of the auri- 

 cles and ventricles of the heart are furnished with numerous gan- 

 glia and plexuses of nerves which have hitherto been neither de- 

 scribed nor represented by any anatomist ; 2ndly, that these nervous 

 structures of the heart, which are distributed over its surface and 



