34 (204) Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. 



the anatomic conditions (nerve -plexus and muscle-cells) are similar 

 in both, it seems probable that the tissue concerned with con- 

 duction in water-rigor is also the same in both. In the Limulus 

 heart it has been demonstrated to be the nerve -plexus and not the 

 muscle. In the vertebrate heart it has not been demonstrated to 

 be the muscle. The recent experiments of Humblet, Hering, and 

 Erlanger, of transecting on compressing the auriculoventricular 

 muscle-bundle in the septum of the mammalian heart, decide 

 nothing relative to the myogenic or neurogenic nature of con- 

 duction and coordination, because it has been shown by Tawara 

 that this muscle-bundle is surrounded and accompanied by a nerve- 

 plexus similar to that in the auricles and the ventricles themselves. 



1 6 (108). " Further observations on the effects of alcohol on 

 the secretion of bile " : WILLIAM SALANT. 



In a previous communication 1 on the effect of alcohol on the 

 secretion of bile, it was stated that diminution in the rate of secre- 

 tion of bile was observed after intravenous injection of alcohol. No 

 definite conclusions could be reached at that time, however, as to 

 whether the diminished secretion was due to alcohol, for a steady 

 decline in the flow of bile was very often noticed during the periods 

 before the administration of alcohol. Recent observations in a 

 series of similar experiments on dogs, in which the rate of secretion 

 remained unchanged for several periods or differed slightly, showed 

 some diminution of the flow of bile after intravenous injection of 

 alcohol. There was also a decrease in both the organic and inor- 

 ganic constituents of the bile after intravenous injection^of alcohol, 

 but the relative amounts of solids were only slightly affected. The 

 diminished excretion of solids, however, cannot be attributed to 

 alcohol, for a wide range of variation prevails in the organic and 

 inorganic constituents of the bile of untreated animals. 



The effects are entirely different when alcohol is introduced 

 into the gastrointestinal canal. The methods employed in this 

 relation were identical with those of the previous experiments- 

 Anesthesia was induced by ether without the aid of morphin. In 

 every case the neck of the gallbladder was securely ligated to pre- 

 vent flow of bile from that direction. A cannula was then intro- 



1 Proceedings of this Society, 1904, i, p. 43. 



