MUSCULAR ELECTRIC CURRENT. 
165 
distinctly acid, but gave very faint traces of hydrochloric acid. 
The residuum became most intensely acid as it was con- 
centrated, and the presence of lactic acid was manifested, both 
in the distillate and the residuum, by the test of the charac- 
teristic crystals of lactate of zinc. 
“From the preceding experiments, the following conclu- 
sions are fairly deducible : 
“1st, That the secretions of the stomach, when digested, 
are invariably acid. 
“ 2d. That the acid reaction was not due to the presence 
of phosphoric acid. 
“3d. That if hydrochloric acid was present, it was in very 
small quantities. 
“4th. That the main agent in producing the characteristic 
reaction was lactic acid. 
“ It is but just to say that the experiments w 7 ere conducted 
with the utmost care and precision, with a single eye to truth , 
and not with a view to support any favorite theory of diges- 
tion. So far from this it may be stated, that the results 
arrived at are at variance with the doctrines maintained by 
the writer for many years. Each experiment was repeated 
several times, so as to leave no room for doubt, and w T as 
carefully compared with the results obtained by examination 
of the fluids discharged at will by another individual.” — 
Condensed from ' The Chemist , 
THE MUSCULAR ELECTRIC CURRENT, AND THE RELA- 
TION BETWEEN IT AND THE UNKNOWN FORCE OF THE 
NERVOUS SYSTEM. 
“ Proof of the existence of an electric current circulating 
through the muscle of a living animal, is obtained by intro- 
ducing into a wound formed in the muscle of a living animal 
the nerve of a prepared frog, in such a manner that the ex^ 
tremity of the nerve shall touch the bottom of the wound, 
and another part the edge; the frog instantly contracts. 
The muscular electric current may be detected in animals for 
some time after death ; but when it has once ceased, it cannot 
again be renewed. It is found in warm as well as in cold- 
blooded animals. By forming a muscular pile, Matteueci suc- 
ceeded in giving considerable deflection to the needle of his 
galvanometer. The pile was thus formed : Five or six frogs 
were prepared and cut in half after Galvani’s plan, great care 
being taken not to injure the muscle. The thighs were then 
cut in half, and so disposed that each half-thigh should 
