PHYSIOLOGY: A. G. MAYER 
lib 
Possibly, also, the negative electrical potential associated with the 
wave of nerve conduction may increase the surface tension of the alka- 
line colloidal particles thus reducing their size, rendering them more 
soluble and thereby increasing the concentration of the reacting ions. 
Contrary to Lillie's hypothesis, we have direct evidence that the 
rate of nerve conduction may be independent of the electrical conduc- 
tivity of the solution surrounding the nerve, for I have found (these 
Proceedings, 1, p. 270) that if sea water be diluted with 0.415 molec- 
120 
70 
> 
33** 32 31 30 2<j 28 27 26 25 2^ 23*" C. 
Tem|jerature. 
ular MgCl2 the rate of nerve conduction is only slightly more depressed 
than if the sea water is diluted with distilled water, or with dextrose; 
yet the MgCU maintains a nearly normal electrical conductivity, while 
with distilled water or dextrose it declines in nearly the same ratio as 
the dilution. Nor do the experiments I have made with solutions con- 
taining some but not all the cations of sea water support Lillie's view. 
Thus if the rate of nerve conduction in 0.647 molecular NaCl is 55, it 
becomes 100 in 85.3 cc. of 0.6 molecular NaCl + 14.69 cc. of 0.39 molec- 
