Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-11-09
LIFE AND ELECTRICITY.
Development of Energy In the Glands and
Mucous Membranes of Animals.

Development of Energy In the Glands and
Mucous Membranes OF Animals.
Aside from the analogies and figures
of speech, and not counting the SC.
called animal magnetism of Mesmer,
which is possibly psychological and
not a physiological phenomenon, there
seems to be some curiously intimate re.
lation between Life and electricity.
which biologists have been Investigate
ing for forty or fifty years. A recent
review of these inquiries in "Science
Progress" shows that there is some dis
agreement as to facts, and still more as
to explanation; but even in this incom
plete state of development the subject
Is an interesting one.
Experiment thus far has been chiefly
confined to the glands of the skin Of
frogs and other animals, to salivary
glands, the stomach lining and various
other mucous membranes; but these
tests have been quite numerous, and
carried on with many. notifications.
In the first place, it appears that dur
liz a SItob lJdIb vi lllC biillC
glands, while in what may be regarded
as a state of comparative rest. never
theless generate enough electricity to
be discernible with delicate instru-
ments, and this current usually has an
inward direction. If, though, some
external stimulus be applied to the
gland, there is apt to be reversal of
direction, or lessening of the intens-
ity of the current of rest" Abstrac-
ton of heat, inhibition of water, paint
ing with various drugs, interference in
blood supply to the organ, and changes
in the kind and quantity of the slim
illus vary the result, In human sub
jects tickling, mental effort, sound,
the expectation of sound. and pungent
odors produce sensible effects, if cleo
trical connections be made between
some part of the skin, like the palm OF
the hand, relatively rich in sweat
glands, and regions poor therein.
Two theories have been advanced as
to the cause of this occurrence. Bay.
liss and Bradford attribute the phe.
nomenon to the flow of fluid in the
secreting mechanism, which is scarcely
more than friction, 1t is known that
the movement of water in cells and
ducts does produce current in other
cases, with porous diaphragms and in
plants; but some of the observed facts
apparently contradict this snpposition
when applied to animals. The othe,
principal explanation is that changes
in metabolism, electrical variation in
! life. "Metabolism'' is a word which
biologists use to designate two classes
of action in the protoplasm of the cells
which make up animal tissue. One
anabolism, is constructive. 1t takes
material out Of the blood aud builds ur
the cells herewith. 1t stores and
strengthens. katabolism, ON the other
hand converts this accumulated an6
manufactured life material into q
separate substance-sweat, saliva OF
something else--to be thrown off
This process is destructive of protop
lasm. Biedermann regards the process
of secretion in gland as kotabblic
and as explaining the ingoing "current
of rest" while anabolism he regard.
the cause of the outgoing current.
For a further elucidation of this sub
| ject it would be natural to look t.
those marine creatures which develo,
electricity to such degree as to para
ly2e their prey with shock or success
sion of shocks. Little Roadway has We
been made, though, in that direction
Fritsch, says the Science Progress
reviewer, held that the organ of tn,
electrical shnd, found in certain Afri
can rivers, is composed of glandula
cells derived from the everything skin
IN this fish, as also in the electrical ra,
and eel, moreover, the action of the or
gan is voluntary and under the contro
of the possessor. The activity, beins
more intense, is susceptible of NOR,
careful study, while the part whicl
the will plays in the manifestation
gives the latter a new value. 1t is hare
to avoid the belief that further explol
alton of these phenomena may revea
something regarding the higher func
tons of life, volition, mentality AM
perhaps moral operations in addition
to the purely physical. Y. Tribune
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