344 Dr. K. Sassa. Effects of Constant Galvanic Curi'ents upon 



reached as produces a contraction of the muscle, which lasts during the whole 

 continuance of passage of the current. When the current is strong this 

 closure tetanus is smooth and regular (fig. 1). During the flow of the current 

 it declines at first quickly, then more gradually, and finally at break relaxes 

 more or less quickly. 



With the ascending current there is usually no continued tetanic contrac- 

 tion, whatever the strength of the current may be. A not infrequent exception 



FiQ. 1. — Nerre-muscle preparation of cat, showing response to constant current 

 stimulation. A = ascending ; D = descending. 



to this rule is, however, that, with an ascending current of moderate strength, 

 a weak and somewhat rapidly declining tetanus does occur during the passage 

 of the current ; but with a strong ascending current no contraction whatever 

 occurs during the passage of the current, although on cessation of the stimulus 

 a tetanus immediately ensues. This last seems to be a similar phenomenon to 

 the " Eitter's opening tetanus " in the frog. 



The remarkable fact that continuous excitation is obtainable during the 

 passage through a mammalian nerve of descending current of sufficient 



