74 ( 2 44) Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. 



2. That injury to spermatozoa capable of fertilizing ova may 

 cause the development of monsters from the ova thus fertilized. 



47 (139). " A vago-esophageal reflex " : S. J. MELTZER and 

 JOHN AUER. 



The general knowledge of the contractions of the esophagus is 

 confined to the peristaltic movements, that is, the consecutive con- 

 tractions of the successive parts of the esophagus following a 

 normal deglutition, or, as it was described by Meltzer at a pre- 

 vious meeting of this society, after an injection of liquid or insuf- 

 flation of air directly into the esophagus. A simultaneous contrac- 

 tion of the entire esophagus can be produced only by stimulating 

 the peripheral end of the vagus when cut in the neck. 



The authors discovered that in dogs a tetanic contraction of the 

 entire esophagus can be caused also by reflex ways. When the 

 vagus is cut in any part of the neck, an electric stimulation of its 

 central end causes a prompt longitudinal and circular contraction 

 of the entire esophagus, which lasts as long as the stimulation con- 

 tinues. Particulars and other interesting facts connected with this 

 observation will be reported later. 



48 (140). " Ion protein compounds," with exhibition of products : 

 WILLIAM J. GIES. 



About five years ago the author found that " when the electric 

 current is passed through neutral or alkaline mucoid solutions (con- 

 sisting of sodium or calcium salts of mucoids) turbidity results 

 within a short time, and flocks eventually form and can be filtered 

 off." This observation was included in a preliminary report of 

 work then in progress. 1 About the same time Huiskamp had 

 been making similar observations in connection with salts of nu- 

 cleoprotein from thymus. 2 Shortly afterward, in preparing mate- 

 rial for work in another connection, 3 the author precipitated from 

 an alkaline solution (Na 2 C0 3 ) of mucoid, with the aid of acetone 



1 Mead and Gies : American Journal of Physiology, 1902, vi {Proc. Amer. 

 Physiol. Soc, 1901, p. xxviii) ; also Gies and collaborators : Biochemical Researches, 

 1903. P- 53- 



2 Huiskamp: Zeitschrift fur physiologische Chemie, I90I-'o2, xxxiv, p. 32. 

 'Gies: Loc. cit. t 1903, viii (Proc. Amer. Physiol. Soc, 1902, p. xliii); Bio- 

 chemical Researches, p. 54. 



