The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-01

Revolution in Physiology Predicted
as Result of Experiments.
rr,n.,n tho Nam York Herald

turtles have convinced DIR. Jacques Loeb
and Prof ]. G. Lingle, psychologists at
the University of Chicago, that common
salt in the blood makes the heart beat.
What is more, they declare that not only
does salt keep the heart in action but it
may cause the heart to beat again after
it has once stopped.
DR. 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 a doubt their theory. They
say that three different theories believed
in for centuries by scientific men have
been utterly demolished by their discov-
cries.
In the experimental work turtles were
used almost exclusively After shipping
off the head of one in as humane a 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 different solu-
tons
Older Theories Abandoned.
The early belief that the heart beats
because it is full of blood was quickly
abandoned when strip of turtles heart
was suspended in a solution of sodium
chloride, and "a regular series of beats
began. Theories of Prof. J. H. Hall of the
University 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-
lions. were thoroughly tested and aban-
doned.
Separated from all nerve connections.
the hfeless strip of heart muscle re- .nlI-
ed DPrfeptlV 10 the DraSapre of ba #.f+.,
solution.
Experiments were made to ascertain
what qualities salt possessed to cause
rhythmic pulsations that were not pos
sessed by calcium or potassium, which
enter into the composition of the blood
They discovered that pure sodium
chloride solution was destructive of heart
tissues, but that by mixing calcium and
potassium solutions the poisonous effects
were destroyed. The secret lay in the
peculiar character of the sodium ions.
LingIe Tells of Experiments
''It was found" said Prof. Lingle to-
day, that strips of centricIe, when placed
in solution of cane sugar, did not beat
rhythmically.
Next I obtained sample of crystal
line dextrose. Strips of ventricle. when
placed in ID, did not beat rhythmically
nor would they make even single contrac-
tons
when strips of ventricle were placed
in solution of glycerine no contractions
occurred. The glycerine solution, how
ever has different effect on heart It's
sue than either cane sugar or dextrose
as it tends to injure the tissue.
Next the action of sodium calcium and
potassium ions on ventricles was tried
When strips of non-beating ventricle were
placed in a solution of sodium chloride
they always beat rhythmically. In a
large number of experiments during the
whole year not one failure to start beats
was recorded.
when calcium chloride instead of So
dunn chloride is used, however 1 find that
it does not start contractions in heart
strips. 1t can, however, stop ccntractions
in strips that are active. The third test
when potassium chloride solution is used
shows that no contractions 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 Physiological study.
From this time on physiological study
and research will have new life and be
blOIS uilItItHl INES. Investigations Ill
physiology had until short time ago
come nearly to standstill. 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 the Hull laboratories is
bound to yiel6 great results, for we arc
working from the beginning to great
things. 1t will take a long time to solve
al h. rnI.1 nd an, all
lions, but the results will be greater than
any one now knows"
Prof. Linge believes the discovery of
the real cause of the hearts Dulsatons
will revolutionize the study and teaching
OF physiology. That the proper saline So
buttons will come to be recognized as hav-
ing the greatest possible practical results
in restoring heart action is his firm con-
Victicn.
Physicians, before these experiments
were made, resorted to hypodermic injec-
tons Of sodium chloride solutions in re-
storing patients after difficult operations.
Rhythmic activity of the heart" Prof
Loeu said, lis certainly function Of the
inorganic salts of the blood. ! have found
that rhythmic activity OF the stripped
muscle OF the frog can be produced by
the action Of a single salt solution. which
action, / believe, is due to sodium So
buttons. Hence pure solution Of sodium
chloride Is not a neutral medium, as has
been supposed for years. but Is physio-
logically active"