on 31uscular Action through the Nerve. 33 



follows : — The potash solution, No. 1, consisted of 1 part 

 liq. potassse to 10 of water ; No. 2, of equal parts of liq. 

 potassae and water ; No. 3, of pure liq. potassae. The 

 ammonia solution — No. 1, of 1 part liq. ammonise to 10 of 

 water ; No. 2, of equal parts of liq. ammonise and water ; 

 No. 3, of concentrated liq. ammonise. The soda solution — 

 No. 1, of a scruple of bicarbonate of soda to one ounce of 

 water ; No. 2, of two drachms of the bicarbonate to one 

 ounce of water. The acids and alkalies were those pre- 

 pared according to the London Pharmacopoeia. 



Some care is requisite in applying the solutions. The 

 best plan was to use a glass rod instead of a piece of glass 

 tubing, or a glass pen, which could be easily cleaned ; and 

 as it was necessary to apply the solutions simultaneously, 

 two rods were required. Or, instead of dropping the solu- 

 tions upon the nerve, the solutions were placed on the papers 

 and the nerve then dropped upon the solutions. 

 - Having arranged the nerve of a and of b upon the papers, 

 which were one-eighth of an inch in width, and the distance 

 between the papers a quarter of an inch, whilst that of the 

 muscle from the paper was half an inch, the limbs being 

 firmly secured, the first experiments were for the purpose 

 of ascertaining the efPect of placing the solutions, not simul- 

 taneously upon the nerve, but one after the other. The 

 nitric acid and potash solutions were employed. Upon 

 placing the alkaline solution, No. 1, upon the nerves, a slight 

 contraction in a, but none in b ; No. 1 acid solution was 

 now placed upon the nerves — no effect. The acid solution, 

 No. 1, was placed upon the nerves — no efPect. On placing 

 the alkaline solution on the nerves, a slight contraction in 



a, but none in b. The No. 2 solutions were now employed 

 in the same manner: with the alkaline solutions, contrac- 

 tions in both limbs, consisting of two strong contractions in 

 a and four in b ; upon placing the acid solutions on the 

 nerves, three contractions were excited in a, but none in 



b. When the acid solutions were first placed upon the 

 nerves, two contractions in a, none in b ; but upon the 

 addition of the alkaline solutions, three strong contractions 

 in b, slight fibrillar contractions in a. With the solutions 

 No. 3, with the alkaline, three strong contractions in a, 



;new series. — vol. xix. no. r. — January 1864. e 



