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XV. An Experimental Inquiry undertaken with the view of ascertaining whether any, 
and what signs of current Force are manifested during the organic process of 
Secretion in living animals (continued). By Ho F. Baxter, Esq. Communi- 
cated hy Dr. Todd, F.R.S. 
Received April 30, — Read June 17, 1852. 
In drawing up the former paper, published in the Transactions for 1848, the author 
experienced some difficulty, inasmuch as the subject of these researches presents a 
mixed character ; and conscious that strong objections might be reasonably started 
by the physical philosopher to conclusions deduced from experiments of the following 
nature, he has naturally felt some hesitation in presenting the following communica- 
tion to the Society. As no attempt, that he is aware of, has been made to refute the 
former conclusions by experimental evidence, it only remains for him to state that he 
has treated the subject more as a physiologist, and for physiologists, than for physicists ; 
that he has not considered himself called upon to refute every objection the physical 
philosopher might be supposed to raise ; and that he has endeavoured at the same 
time to avoid every thing of a controversial character. 
Precautions. — Instead of entering fully into all the precautions necessary to be 
observed in researches of the following description, we shall refer to the works of 
Farad.ay*, Matteucci-^' and Becquerel:|;. We must however bear in mind that it 
is not the mere fact of getting an effect upon the needle of the galvanometer that is 
to satisfy us ; that can be readily obtained : we have to point out to what class of phe- 
nomena the effects may be referred. 
As it appeared desirable to condense the experiments as much as possible, we 
shall make a few general remarks as to the mode in which the experiments were 
performed. The whole arrangement was ascertained to be in a good working con- 
dition previous to each set of experiments. As an objection might be started to the 
use of the former electrodes, two others were procured of platinum wire, No. 1 6 gauge, 
each a foot in length, and from the same piece of wire. Smaller wooden mercurial 
cups were also used, and it wms at these cups that the making and breaking of con- 
tacts were made. The extremities of the electrodes were well cleaned after and pre- 
vious to the formation of each circuit; moreover, the electrodes were held lightly in 
the hand, not squeezed. 
* Experimental Researches in Electricity, vol. ii. p. 60. 
t Trait6 des Phenomfenes Electro-Physiologiques, chap. iii. 
J Traite de I’Electricite, tome iv. p. 164. 
2 o 
MDCCCLII. 
