1869.] Dr. C. B. Radcliffe's Researches in Animal Electricity. 379 



That the exterior and interior of the sheaths of the fibres in nerve and 

 muscle may be in opposite electrical conditions, because the sheath plays 

 the part of a dielectric. 



That the surface composed of the ends of the fibres in nerve and muscle 

 may be in an electrical condition opposed to that of the surface composed 

 of the sides of these fibres, because there may be a communication at the 

 ends of the fibres with the interior of the sheaths of the fibres. 



That the nerve-current and muscular current may be no more than 

 accidental phenomena, depending upon the mere fact of the positive ex- 

 terior and the negative interior of the nerve and muscular fibre being con- 

 nected by a conductor. 



That the fundamental electrical condition of nerve and muscle during 

 rest may be, not one of currents ever circulating in closed circuits around 

 peripolar molecules, of which currents the nerve-current and the mus- 

 cular current are only derived portions, but one of tension — a condition, 

 not current in any sense, but static — a state which, as long as it lasts, 

 must tend to keep the molecules acted upon in a state of mutual re- 

 pulsion. 



III. On the Electrical Phenomena which mark the passing of Nerve 

 and Muscle from the state of Rest into that of Action. 



The fact of " induced contraction" so called, together with the analogies 

 existing between the muscles and the electric organ of the torpedo as 

 to the relation to the nervous system and the manner of acting in 

 more cases than one, are cited as reasons for believing, with Matteucci, 

 that a discharge, analogous to that of the torpedo, marks the passage of 

 both muscle and nerve from the state of rest into that of action. 



And, further, the fact, well established by Prof. Du Bois Reymond, 

 that the nerve-current and the muscular current are both alike greatly 

 iveakened when the nerve or muscle passes from the state of rest into 

 that of action, is cited as corroborative evidence in support of Matteucci's 

 conclusion — as demonstrating, in short, the actual disappearance of elec- 

 tricity in the very cases in which Matteucci, from analogy solely, infers the 

 existence of discharge. 



Again, the conclusion arrived at as to the electrical condition of muscle 

 and nerve during the state of rest, is looked upon as another argument to 

 the same effect ; for if it be true that this condition is one, not of current, 

 but of charge, then there is a substantial ground for supposing that the 

 passing of nerve and muscle from the state of rest into that of action may 

 be marked by discharge. 



In a word, the more the evidence is considered the more it seems to 

 justify this conclusion, — that the passing of nerve and muscle from the state 

 of rest into that of action is marked by a discharge of electricity analogous 

 to that of the torpedo. 



