The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-12

negative or positive charges of cleo
tricity, and can be precipitated by the
opposite charges. 1t has long been
known that the nerve was made OF
proteids and that whenever a nerve
impulse was transmitted it was accom-
panied by a current of native electric
ity Recently DR.. Jaques Loeb, who
showed a year ago that sodium chic
ride solution would stimulate the heart
tc increased action, and who has since
been working to determine how the So
dunn accomplished that end, turned his
attention to the study of the valence
or ion. and began investigation into
the influence of ions on muscle stimu
lus.
DR.. Mathews, a colleague of his, took
this up at once and began a series of
experiments with the nerves of frogs
and other animals, which quickly
showed that not the positive, or So
dunn, but the negative chloride ION
was the determining factor. He was
led by his experiments to form the ny
pothesis that the nerve stimulus was
similar to the precipitation of colloidal
solutions by the same substances as
described by Hardy, and at once found
his hypothesis satisfying every condi-
ton. He found, in short, that what
happens in the nerve when it is slim
ulated is nothing more than that 1t
has a tendence to 'Jell."
Finding then that the particles of col
loiadal solution in the nerve had posi-
tive electric charges, he next discov-
cred that they induced in the water
which holds them in solution negative
charges about themselves. When a me-
chanlcal jar causes two or more collol-
dial particles to coalesce as rain drops
on window do when 1t is struck by
a blow, the surface of these, upon
which the charges reside, is reduced,
some of the negative charges are re-
leased and attract to themselves some
of the positive charges on the neigh
boring particles, causing these in turn
to coalesce in order to reduce their sur
face, and thus, in turn, freeing other
negative charges which affect the next
layer Thus is created that negative
current or negative variation.
DR.. Loeb, taking up these expert
ments, at once found them fitting in
with his, and knowing that muscle is
like the nerve, colloidal in nature, hal
at once at hand an explanation of mus
oular contractility-one of the most
difficult problems science has had to
contend with. For it at once became
evident that the negative current, or
motor-impulse, entering the nerve, pre-
cipitated the colloids therein in the
same way and thus contracted the
nerve. He had already shown that the
skeletal muscles of the body will beat
rhymthically when placed in solutions
Of negative ions Now he had before
him a reason for this. 1t was at once
evident that the beating of the heart
is due to the precipitation and imme-
date gelation of the colloids it con-
tains, is electrical in character and is
controlled by chemical action governed
by associated bodily functions, which
will be quickly reduced to formulate.
simplest of all, however," said DR..
Loeb, in discussing the work of his
colleague, which he declared has taken
the ground from under his feet, sis
the explanation 1t offers of anesthesia."
This is something which the discov-
erers feel will at once attract the at
tention of physicians who might over
look the deeper scientific meanings. 1t
is we'll known that the influence of an
aesthetics is directly proportional to
their ability to dissolve fat Dr.
Mathews has shown now that If the
nerve can be kept from precipitation
there can be no stimulus along it.
There is no easier way to do this
than by thinning" the solution in the
nerve just as housewife can thin gel
atine and prevent it jellying. The an
aesthetics, carried through the lungs
into the blood and so to the brain, they
dissolve further the colloids in the
highly sensitive brain cells and make
the solution more stable. AS long as
this condition prevails on sensation can
pass through a nerve. Any positively
charged ion will do this as we'll as a
fat solvent, but either is easily admin
istered in minute quantities, works
mildly and is quickly removed and is
therefore, the best anaesthetic.
Similar to anaesthesia-in fact iden-
teal in parts the phenomenon OF
drunkenness. A man taking aleoho
into his stomach carries 1t thence
through his blood to his brain where
like ether its effects his brain cells
rendering the solution more stable ant
reducing his power to send motor cur.
rents to his muscles. 1t may also per
haps eventually reach his muscles anL
reduce their ability to contract
In this, too, is seen a quick and cor
rect explanation of the use of alcoho
or whiskey as a cure for snake bite
The effect of the snake bite was showr
by Darwin to be immediate coagulatior
OF the nerve colloids. This is the man.
neg 1T causes death. But the effect Of
alcohol is to dilute this substance, 81
If the alcohol can reach the nerves ant
brain cells in time it will prevent the
action by the snake poison.
These are but few of the more readil,
understood popular illustrations Offered
by the scientific men of the workinl
of the theory. 1t goes far deeper, how,
ever, than these would indicate, anC
in the opinion of the scientific mer
gathered here brings the physiologis
much nearer, in fact, very near, to tn,
clearing up of the mystery that hal
surrounded the phenomena of life.
DR.. Loeb has in fact continued hi.
experiments looking to determine tn,
true nature of death. He has concluded
that 1t is not a cessation of action bu'
morphological process, and in thc
case of the sea urchin eggs in recen
experiments, has indefinitely postponed
death by the use of potassium cyanide
solutions. He is now experimenting ii
connection with DR.. Mathews in tn,
logical continuance of this experiment
~s
First Tramp-"Did you hear about
that new law fer teachin' the schoo
children about the effects of liquor p
Second Tramp-"Yes. If they'd only
provide fer the appointment of a ter
rible example fer each school, at a bis
salary, you and l might have struck
a snap."-Town and Country.
Mr.. Cahey-"Y' lead me cat and
a dog loife, y do. Mrs. Cahey-"Ach
it's that very thing OF do. You layin
an loafin' aroun' the house and me
workin' hard the who'll t feed ye."-
Harlem I ffa