( 556 ) 
differences found in these experiments, one need not yet derive from 
them that the muscle during the rapid contraction forms or loses 
creatine. For on the one hand the decomposition of creatine in the 
muscle is no doubt subject to quite unknown, but certainly varying 
influences, whilst on the other hand long continued irritating can also 
give rise to some lasting contraction, tonus. 
That in the frog during the muscle-tonus in contradistinction to 
the rapid contractions, the quantity of creatine in the muscles increases, 
whilst, in default of tonus, it decreases, appears from the following 
experiments. 
In the first place the influence of the elimination of the tonus, by 
excluding the innervation, was examined, first while the current of 
blood was stopped, then with undisturbed circulation of the blood. In 
the former case the ischiadicus was on one side cut through and 
then an both sides the root of the thigh was so well tied up with 
an elastic ligature that the blood in the vessels of the webs stood 
still, in such a way that the ligature ran below the ischiadicus not 
cut through. In the latter case the ischiadicus was simply cut through. 
Three days after the section of the nerve the animals were killed 
and the muscles of the hindlegs examined. 
intact 
2.204 
2.678 
2.990 
2.987 
2.726 
2.833 
cut difference 
1137 0.067 
2.282 0.396 
2.790 0.200 
2.887 0.100 
2.551 0.175 
2.688 0:i45 
Intact 
Q I 3.784 
1 1 II 4.000 
s. \ III 4.146 
| IY 3.490 
|Jv 3.434 
|f VI 3.685 
| VII 3.157 
cut difference 
3.342 0.442 
3.653 0.347 
3.688 0.458 
3.192 0.298 
3.131 0.303 
3.334 0.351 
2.900 0.257 
Without any exception, therefore, there was found in the muscles 
that had lost the tonus for three days, less creatine than in the 
unhurt leg. If the current of blood was stopped, the difference was 
smaller than when it went on undisturbed. Yet in the tied up legs 
the quantity of creatine was, also on the side of the unhurt nerve, 
smaller than it is usually found in the frog. It is therefore probable 
that on both sides, after the current of blood had been stopped, 
creatine was decomposed. With respect to the experiments with 
undisturbed circulation of the blood the same objection may be 
raised which has been made mention of concerning similar experi¬ 
ments with the rabbit, viz. that it is unknown how far, perhaps 
