The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-28
Interesting Investigations at
Chicago University.
SODIUM PRODUCES puLSAIIONs
4 Revolution 10 tho Teaching Of Physiology
Predicted as Z Result sf Experiments on
Hearts Of Turtles

Chicago. H.. Dec. 2s.--Experiments on
turtles have convinced Dr. Jacques Loeb
and Prof c. j. Lingle, psychologists at
the University OF Chicago. that common
salt I'm the blood makes the heart beat.
What IL more. they declare that not
only does salt keep the heart In action.
but II may cause the heart to beat again
after It has once stopped.
DIR. Loeb and Prof. Lingle for several
months have been conducting a series of
delicate scientific tests bearing upon the
pulsation OF the heart and now have an
nounced that the results obtained have
verified beyond doubt their theory.
They say that three different theories be-
licved In for centuries by scientific men
have been utterly demolished by their
discoveries.
In the experimental work turtles were
used almost exclusively. After shipping
off the head of one I'm as humane way
as possible. the lower part OF the shell
was removed and the heart taken.
A small strip from one OF the ventricles
was used, the blood was removed, and
the piece Of flesh was suspended In diff
ferent solutions.
OLDER THEORIES ABANDONED
The early belief that the heart beats
because II is full OF blood was quickly
abandoned when strip OF turtles heart
was suspended in a solution of sodium
chloride, and regular series OF beats
began.
Theories OF Prof J. III. Hall OF the Uni
versity of Michigan. that the protocols
In the blood caused the beating, and OF
Prof Wringer of Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity that nerve action causes the pulsa-
tons. were thoroughly tested and aban-
doned.
Separated from all nerve connections,
the lifeless strip of heart muscle
spOnded perfectly to the presence of the
salty solution.
Experiments were made to ascertain
what qualities salt possessed TO cause
rhythmic pulsations that we.e not pos
sessed by calcium or potassium. which
enter into the composition OF the blood.
They discovered that a pure sodium chlo-
ride solution was destructive of heart
tissues, bat that by mixing calcium and
potassium solutions the poisonous effects
were destroyed The secret lay IN the
peculiar character OF the sodium ions
LINGLE TELLS OF EXPERIMENTS.
1T was found" said Prof Lingle, that
strips OF ventricle. when placed In a solu-
tion OF cane sugar. did not beat rhyth-
micaliy.
Next ! obtained a sample OF crystal
line dextrose. Strips OF ventricle when
placed In IL. did not beat rhythmically.
nor would they make even single contrac-
tions.
-..When strips OF ventriole. were placed
In solution of glycerine no contractlons
occurred. The glycerine solution. how
ever, has 2 different effect en- heart tis-
sue than either cpne sugar or dextrose,
as II tends to injure the tissue.
Next the action OF sodium, calcium
and potassium ions on ventricles was
tried. When strips OF non-beating ven-
tricle were placed IN a solution OF sodium
chloride they always beat rythinlcally In
q large number Of experiments during the
whole year not one failure to start beats
was recorded.
when calcium chloride instead OF So
dium chloride is used. however. I find that
IL does not start ccntractions In heart
strips II can, however, stop contractions
in strips that are active. The third test.
when potassium chloride solution is used.
shows that no contractons occur.
when the combined effect OF these
three salts on cardiac tissue Is studied.
the result strongly supports the funda-
mental idea that the sodium ion and not
the salts OF calcium Is the active agent
in producing rhythmic activity in heart
muscle.
REVOLUTION IN PHYSIOLOGY
From this time on physiological study
and research Will have new life ard be
along different lines. 1nvestiga lions in
physiology, had until a short time ago
come nearly TO standstll Little new
Information was being obtained because
scientists were not willing to work on
the elementary questions.
''Such work as this which we have been
doing at tho Hull laboratories H. bound
10 yield great results. for we are work
ing from the beginning 90 great things.
IL will take a long time to solve all the
problems and answer all the questions.
but the results will be greater than any
one now knows.
Prof thgle believes the discovery OF
the real cause OF the hearts pulsations
will revolutionize the study and teaching
of physiology. That the proper saline
solutions win come to he recognized as
having the greatest possible practical re-
suits in restoring heart acton is his firm
conviction.
Physicians, before these experiments
were made, resorted to hypodermic i'm
jectons OF sodium chloride solutions in
restoring patients after difficult opera
tons
Rhythmic activity Of the heart" Prof.
Loeb said. lis certainly n function OF
the inorganic salts OF the blood. l have
found that rhythmic activity of the
stripped muscle OF the frog can he pro-
duced by the action OF single salt solu-
tion. which action, I believe. is due TO
sodium solutions. Hence pure solution
of sodium chloride Is not neutral me
dunn. ss has been supposed Tor years.
but is physiologically active"