418 Mr. F. Gotch. Electromotive Properties of [Mar. 8, 



Although it grows abundantly in the aqueous solution employed, it 

 exerts no reducing action on the nitric acid. 



Bacillus scissus. — In form this organism much resembles Bacillus 

 prodigiosus. In no case were spores observed. In drop cultivations it 

 is seen to be very motile. 



It produces pale light green surface expansions on gelatine plates 

 which, under a low power ( X 100 diameters), are seen to be of fine 

 granular texture, the edge being much frayed out. 



In tubes the gelatine and agar-agar become tinted green. 



It powerfully reduces nitrates to nitrites in the solution employed. 



Of the above, the first nine were derived from water, whilst the 

 remaining three were obtained from garden soil. 



The original descriptions are illustrated by drawings of the various 

 micro-organisms as seen in microscopic preparations, and of the 

 appearances to which they give rise in gelatine-plate and other culti- 

 vations. 



II. " Further Observations on the Electromotive Properties of 

 the Electrical Organ of Torpedo marmoratar By Francis 

 Gotch, M.A. Oxon., B.A., B.Sc. London. Communicated by 

 Prof. J. Burdon Sanderson, F.R.S. Eeceived February 

 23, 1888. 



(Abstract.) 



In the present memoir the author details the results of further 

 observations as to the electromotive properties of the electrical 

 organ of Torpedo, the experiments being carried out in October, 

 1887, at the laboratory of the Societe Scientifique dArcachon. 



I. The first part of the work deals entirely with the phenomena of 

 "irreciprocal conduction" in the organ of Torpedo, as described by 

 du Bois-Ueymond. 



From du Bois-Reymond's experiments it would appear that the 

 organ possesses the remarkable property of conducting an intense 

 current of short duration, led lengthwise through its columns, better 

 when the current is directed from its ventral to its dorsal surface 

 than when directed the reverse way. The former direction coincides 

 with that of the current of the shock of the organ, and is therefore 

 termed by him " homodromous," the latter being opposite in direc- 

 tion, is termed " heterodromous." The evidence rests upon the value 

 of the galvanometric deflections obtained when both currents are 

 allowed to traverse a strip of organ and a galvanometric circuit. The 

 deflections are markedly unequal, particularly when induced currents 

 are used, the homodromous effect being always much greater than the 



