OF THE ELECTRICAL ORGAN OF TORPEDO MARMORATA. 
507 
The interval between nerve excitation and the commencement of the response was 
much longer than had been anticipated. 
In the particular experiment just given, about , 006" would be occupied by trans¬ 
mission along the nerve trunk, leaving '01" still unaccounted for. The influence of 
temperature seemed to indicate that the delay was connected with the low tempera¬ 
ture of the fish. To obviate this, the Torpedoes were now kept in water at 12° C. It 
was now deemed necessary to repeat Jolyet’s experiments on transmission. 
Experiments on Transmission in the Electrical Nerves. 
Three distinct sets of experiments were made on this subject. 
A medium-sized vigorous Torpedo, 26 cm. X 17 cm., which had been kept for 
some days in water at 12° C., and gave smart shocks to the hand, was killed by 
punching the brain. The second electrical nerve was now prepared to its point of entry 
into the organ, and a wedge of this tissue was then cut out corresponding to the 
distribution of the nerve. The preparation was placed upon a glass plate, and the 
dorsal and ventral skin led off by cushions of kaolin. The nerve hung free in air, 
supported on the platinum exciting electrodes. It had been observed in previous 
experiments that the nerve was much less excitable in that part of its course which 
was in close proximity to the organ; the electrodes could not, therefore, he shifted 
with safety any great distance along the nerve. 
Organ-current = + *0042 It. 
Induction coil without core in primary coil. 
Secondary coil at 0. Two Groves in primary circuit. 
Excitation 25 millims. from organ. 
Closure . 
•008”-'01" 
•008"--011" 
•008"--012" 
•008"-on 
Deflection . 
0 
0 
+ 170 
+ 00 
+ 255 G. x i Xl 
Excitation 12 millims from organ. 
Closure . 
■007"--008" 
■008"- , 009" 
•008'--01" 
•008"--011" 
'008”— on 
Deflection . 
0 
+ 55 
+ 660 
+ CO 
+ 85 G. T m 
Excitation 25 millims. from organ. 
Closure .... 
•008 "--Ol" 
•008"--011" 
■008"--012" 
Deflection 
0 
+ 220 
+ CO 
3 t 2 
