SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
469 
hours measured, and its solids and salts ascertained. Tables were exhibited 
in which the results arrived at were estimated in relation to each kilogramme 
of dung and of food. The greatest variations were found to exist in the 
amount of bile secreted daily, independently of the amount of food or other 
obvious cause. The same fact was observed when mercury was given. No 
conclusions, however, were drawn, as further researches were required before 
so intricate and difficult a subject could be sufficiently investigated. — Vide 
Report presented to British Association. 
Influence of Heat on Muscular Contraction. — A very valuable paper has 
been laid before the French Academy by M. Chmoutevitch, in which the 
author shows that heat has a greater effect on the determination of muscular 
contraction than is generally supposed. M. Chmoutevitch conducted his 
experiments on the gastroenemius of the frog, and has arrived at these con- 
clusions : — 1. The mechanical power of the muscle increases up to 30° to 33° 
(Centigrade P), according to its length and tension. 2. If the temperature 
be raised above 33°, the power of the muscle diminishes, until, as the tempe- 
rature becomes higher, a point is arrived at which may be called the zero of 
work. 3. In experimenting with two muscles which, in all but temperature, 
are under like conditions, it is found that the one Submitted to the higher 
temperature loses its power of contraction more rapidly than the other. 4. 
The total work of a muscle (represented by the weight it can sustain) is 
always greater at a low than at a high temperature. 5. The explanation of 
the increase of mechanical work during the elevation of temperature is found 
in this fact, that the elasticity of the muscle increases with the temperature. 
Is there Animal Electricity ?■ — M. Schultz-Schultzenstein answers, there 
is not. According to this savant, the researches of Matteucci, Dubois, 
Reymond, Remak, Radcliffe, and others are valueless, and arose out of a 
blunder (!). M. Schultzenstein believes that the electric indications which 
have been attributed by physiologists to the vital action of the tissues, are 
simply the consequence of the salt and water used in their experiments. He 
is somewhat dogmatic in the expression of his opinions, and among other 
startling statements occurs the assertion that a Velectricite animate est une 
illusion .” He lays down the following conclusions : — 1. The supposition that 
living muscle produces electricity is incorrect. If needles be plunged into 
the foot of a living animal and be placed in communication with the galvano- 
meter no deflection of the needle occurs. — 2. Muscles removed from the body 
give evidence of electricity, but this is because of the combination of the 
decomposing tissue with the oxygen of the air. — 3. Salt water causes the 
galvanometer needle to be very decidedly deflected. This explains why meat 
like pork which is salted gives evidence of electricity. — 4. The supposed 
electric current in the human muscle is solely caused by the salt water in 
contact with the tissue. — 5. In diseased structures the electric current is 
derived from the decomposing tissues. — 6. The electricity of the secretions 
is similarly produced. — Vide Comptes Rendus , August 26. 
A Photo-sphymograph. — At the meeting of the French Academy, on the 
19th of August, M. Ozanam gave a description of a new contrivance, some- 
what like that employed in an observatory, for registering the movements of 
the pulse. It is a modification of M. Masey’s Sphymograph, a tube of mer- 
cury being substituted for the indicator. The pulsations being communicated 
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