280 MR. H. F. BAXTER’S EXPERIMENTAL INQUIRY AS TO THE EXISTENCE 
§ 1. On the manifestation of Current Force during Biliary Secretion. 
Experiment 1. — Rabbit. Prussic acid dropped on the eye. One electrode inserted 
into the gall-bladder ; the other in contact with the blood flowing from the vena cava 
inferior in the chest; the latter positive^ 10°, and by breaking and making contact 
made to increase. Between the blood in the vena porta and the bile ; blood slightly 
positive. Mucous membrane of stomach and blood in the chest ; stomach positive 8°- 
The circuit between the gall-bladder and the blood in the chest wms again formed ; 
blood positive 10°. 
Experiment 2. — Rabbit. Prussic acid dropped on the eye. As the results were 
similar to those obtained in the last experiment we need not repeat them. 
The parts were allowed to remain for half an hour, when the following circuits were 
formed ; — Between the surface of the liver and blood in the chest ; no effect. The 
mucous membrane of the gall-bladder and blood in the chest ; blood positive 3° or 4°, 
The mucous membrane of gall-bladder and the wall of the chest, out of the way of 
the blood ; no effect. 
Experiment 3. — Cat. Prussic acid, swallowed. Between the bile in the gall- 
bladder and blood flowing from the vena porta ; the latter slightly positive. Between 
the bile in the gall-bladder and blood flowing from the vena cava inferior, in the 
chest ; the latter positive 5°. 
Experiment 4. — Cat. Prussic acid, swallowed. The electrodes were inserted into 
the gall-bladder and vena cava inferior in the chest ; the latter positive 4° or 5°, and 
as the blood flowed out from the wound the motion of the needle increased. Between 
the gall-bladder and vena porta, the latter slightly positive. 
Several other experiments might be related proving the same conclusions, but as the 
fact may not be disputed, we shall state, in a general manner, the other circuits that 
were formed ; viz. between clots of blood and pieces of liver ; between the mucous 
membrane of the intestines and the gall-bladder; between the blood in the chest and 
various parts of the abdomen ; one electrode was coated with bile, and then both of 
the electrodes were dipped into the blood in the chest. It was generally found that 
the electrode in contact with the blood was positive, but not always ; sometimes vibra- 
tions of the needle only occurred, at other times the needle went as far as 80° or 90° 
and then stopped. The motions of the needle presented quite a different character 
to those observed when the bile in the gall-bladder and the blood flowing from the 
vena cava inferior were formed into a circuit ; the latter presented a steady character, 
they could be depended upon ; whereas with the former a greater effect might be pro- 
duced at first, and it would then cease, or perhaps go in the opposite direction. 
The following fact may not perhaps be denied, viz. that when the electrodes of a 
galvanometer are brought into contact with the bile flowing from the liver and with 
* If zinc and platinum be formed into an elementary voltaic circle with dilute sulphuric acid, the current, 
according to the usual mode of expression, goes from the zinc through the acid to the platinum ; the platinum 
is therefore the positive electrode, and in contact with the cation hydrogen. 
