300 THOMPSON YATES LABORATORIES REPORT 
Modification in the injury 'current' (P.D.) produced by immersion of the nerve in dilute solutions 
of electrolytes. 
Experiment II (A) 
Experiment VII 
Experiment VI 
Experiment VIII 
■45 per cent. 
NaCl 
•372 per cent. 
KC1 
•025 per cent. 
NaOH 
■02 per cent. 
HC1 
Nerve at once ... 
I -oo 
I -oo 
I -oo 
I -co 
After 5 min. immersion 
1-40 
1-15 
1-04 
,+6 
,, 10 ., ,, 
i-37 
I -02 
116 
ri 9 
„ 15 „ 
I - 20 
C92 
0-96 
no 
„ 20 „ 
I '09 
078 
0-92 
0-97 
„ 25 „ 
079 
o-68 
074 
0-82 
„ 3° » 
o-6o 
0-51 
0-40 
0-39 
From the curves in figure B, or from the numbers in the table, it is possible 
to appreciate the close similarity in effects of all these dilute solutions of electrolytes. 
This is the more remarkable if one considers that there is every reason to suppose 
that a better selection of corresponding concentrations of these different electrolytes 
would have led to a closer correspondence still. The curves are very similar, and are 
quite unlike the curves obtained from concentrated solutions as is seen from the 
curves of figure A. It is also obvious that they form evidence strengthening the 
conclusion already arrived at, that real attempts to quantitatively estimate the modifica- 
tion produced by immersion in a solution of electrolytes had better be limited to a 
study of the results of the first five minutes' immersion. 
The details of these experiments bears witness also to another very interesting 
fact which is brought out by the contrasted examination of nerves removed at different 
periods after the death of the animal. 
For a very considerable interval after the death of the animal the nerves are practically 
unaltered by the changes which immediately follow death, as far at least as the characteristics 
of structure are concerned which give rise to the injury current except in one particular. 
The outer solution of the nerve is synonymous with the lymph of the tisssue; 
and the nerves examined (the sciatic nerves) lie, while in the body, imbedded in great 
muscular masses. From these muscles carbonic acid and other disintegration products 
are continually being cast off, which, during life, are removed by the circulating blood, 
