Liberation of Ions and Oxygen Tension of Tissues. 215 



»reat a drain on the funds allotted to medical work in these colonies, etc., 

 where this condition is prevalent. 



This preparation of antimony was tried successfully in a few cases of 

 syphilis* by intramuscular injection, but the pain was so severe that the 

 method was not continued. I venture to suggest that, as intravenous 

 injection of the metal has proved feasible, a further trial may be warranted 

 in this other spirochetal disease so closely allied to yaws. 



The Liberation of Ions and the Oxygen Tension of Tissues during 

 Activity. (Preliminary Communication.) 

 By H. E. Eoaf, M.D., D.Sc. 



(Communicated by Prof. C. S. Sherrington, F.R.S. Received January 10, — 

 Read February 20, 1913.) 



(From the Physiology Laboratory, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School.) 



The hypothesis, that when cells become active ions are liberated, is frequently 

 quoted in physiological writings, but measurements of the ionic changes are 

 not given. The present research is an attempt to measure the ionic changes 

 during tissue activity. A knowledge of these changes is desirable in order- 

 to compare the action of ions on colloids outside the cells with the changes 

 that occur inside the cells. 



On turning to the physiological literature one finds that little or nothing- 

 is given in the way of measurement of the ionic concentrations with which 

 biology has to deal. Thus, neither the recent work on electrobiology by 

 Bernstein,f nor that on the hydrogen ion in biological processes by Sorensen+ 

 contains any reference to the measurements of ions in tissues during rest 

 or activity. Galeotti has, however, measured the hydrogen ion in heart 

 muscle. § 



Method. 



The method used in the present series of experiments was to prepare a 

 frog's sartorius muscle and arrange it for direct stimulation from an induction 

 coil. A high resistance reflecting galvanometer was used and the muscle was 

 tetanised. The muscle was tested with non-polarisable (Ringer solution, 

 calomel) electrodes. Two of these were placed to touch the muscle directly 



* 1 Roy. Soc. Proc.,' B, voL 80, p. 481. 



t J. Bernstein, 1 Electrobiologie ' (Braunschweig, Vieweg und Sohn), 1912. 

 % S. P. L. Sorensen, 1 Ergebnisse der Physiologie,' 1912, vol. 12, pp. 393-532. 

 § G. Galeotti, ' Archivio di Fisiologia,' 1904, vol. 1, p. 512 ; ' Zeits. f. Allge. Physiol., 1 

 1906, vol. 6, p. 99. 



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