on MiLScular Action through the Nerve. 



31 



nerve acquires during the passage of the current, so as to 

 produce, in addition to the nerve-current, a current in the 

 direction of the extrinsic current. As regards this new 

 mode of action, the nerve maybe compared to a voltaic pile, 

 and the transverse section loses its essential import. Hence 

 the electric effects of the nerve, when in the electro-tonic 

 state, may also be observed in nerves without previously 

 dividing them." 



On a former occasion* I endeavoured to ascertain whether 

 the electric condition of the nerve might not, under these 

 circumstances, be increased ; the results of my experiments, 

 however, failed to give any evidence in support of that 

 conclusion ; but, on the contrary, the nerve-current was 

 destroyed, and I was led to suppose that the electric 

 current occasioned a disorganisation of the nerve. The 

 later researches of Matteucci clearly point out the cause of 

 my failure, and confirm in a great measure the results I 

 then attained. 



In an elaborate article, published in the British and 

 Foreign Medico-Chirurgical Eeview " for July 1862, on 

 general Nerve Physiology (German), it would seem that 

 amongst the German physiologists this state of the nerve 

 is still considered as being in a peculiar state (electro-tonic — 

 electrotonus). Pfitiger, who has worked at the subject to 

 some extent, speaks of the portion of nerve connected with 

 the cathode as being brought into the state of catelectro- 

 tone, and that the irritability of this portion is increased 

 and rendered favourable for conducting ; whilst that por- 

 tion of the nerve connected with the anode is brought into 

 a state possessing the opposite properties, and is spoken of 

 as being brought into a state of anelectrotone. Eeason- 

 ing from the facts established by Matteucci, it appears to 

 me that the two portions of the nerve called anelectrotone 

 and catelectrotone, by Pfitiger, correspond to the portions 

 where the acid and alkaline compounds are developed by 

 the electric current ; if so, the effects are evidently refer- 

 able to the secondary electro-motor of the nerve as con- 

 sidered by Matteucci. To ascertain how far this supposition 



* Edinburgli New Pliilosophical Journal, New Series, April 1858. Essay 

 on Organic Polarity, cliap. ix. 



