APPENDIX 
EXPERIMENTS UPON DEGENERATED NERVE 
Experiment I 
Vagus Nerve of Dog 
Professor Sherrington most kindly performed the preliminary section of the 
nerve, thereby placing the completeness and reality of the operation beyond dispute. 
Two pieces, each about I centimetre in length, were removed from the left vagus nerve of this 
animal. One at the extreme upper limit of the nerve in the neck, and one at the extreme lower limit. 
On the ninth day (ten inclusive of the day of operation) the piece of nerve which extended between 
the sites of the operation was removed. 
From this piece the upper centimetre was excised, so as to present a new cross section distant 
i centimetre from the site of operation. 
Degenerated Vagus Nerve 
Potential difference between points on the longitudinal surface (normally +) and the cross section 
Point (i)* o 
■ „ (2) positive. A deflection observed current too small to compensate, and, therefore, less than 
the unit of compensation ("00008 Daniell). 
(3) ■■> ■>■> » 
(+) 
(5) 11 11 11 11 
(6) 
(7) 99 99 91 99 
(8) The second cross section was negative. The deflection observed, but current again too 
small to compensate. 
A fresh section was now made at point (6), the subsequent examination revealed the same small 
difference between this point and the longitudinal surface as tor the original cross section. 
Resistance of piece 6 centimetres long measured = 30,100 ohms or 5,000 per centimetre. A fresh 
section was now made at point (5), subsequent examination revealed a similar state of things as before. 
The nerve, 5 centimetres long, was now placed in tap water and left in this 
for 25 minutes, at the end of which time it was removed and dried in filter paper. Upon removal 
its altered appearance was noted. It was swollen and shorter, length 4-7 centimetres. It was rigid but 
pulpy in appearance, unlike the clean rigidity of a normal nerve after immersion in water. 
Resistance measured was 51,400 ohms or 10,280 ohms per centimetre. Potential differences 
between longitudinal surface and upper cross section, and subsequently to lower cross section. 
Daniell 
Point (1) positive to upper section ... "017424 to lower section 
(2) „ „ ... '020064 
99 (3) 19 » ■■■ 'OI53I2 
(+) 
... '010296 ,, 
The lower cross section (5) o 
Daniell 
•o i 2936 
•012936 
•OI 20I 2 
•OO792O 
* Point (1) as usual means point distant one centimetre. 
