The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-12
SECRET. OF NERVES FOUND
DISCOVERY OF THEIR FORCE
WAVES MADE IN CHICAGO.

hCuHOn w my <ASh 1'hUNe
PIain-Heart and other MuscuiaI
Action Also ExpIained-Why Heal
Diminishes reliability of the
Nerves-The Phenomenon Oi
Drunkenness ExpInined-AIsO the
REASON why Whisky OvercOmes
snake Bite-PhenOmena of Life
and Death Cleared Up Partly.
From the New York Sun.
Chicago, Dec. 30.-There will be an
nounced tomorrow to the members OF
the American Physiological Society In
their annual meeting here the discov-
cry of the secret of nerve and muscle
stimulus and of the manner in which
nerve impulses are carried from part
to part of the body, and that in when
muscles contract and expand in re-
Spouse to these impulses. Involving as
it does the explanation of the rhythmic
beat of the heart and many other
problems directly connected with the
vital processes, this is regarded by no
less scientific man than Prof. Jaques
Loeb, of the University of Chicago as
the most nearly fundamental physio-
logical generalization in fifty years.
Not only does DR.. Albert F. Mathews,
professor of physiological chemistry in
the University of Chicago, who makes
the announcement, explain the ordi-
nary matters of nerve stimulation, but
he makes plain at the same time the
entire matter of anaesthesia, rendering
HI "a
with mathematical precision and max
ing their workings entirely easy of un-
Outstanding. His discovery Is bound,
say those members of the Physiologi-
cal Society who have had information
about it, to work an upheaval in the
world of medicine, and in physiology, in
which ii explains many matters.
This is a brief summary of the dis
covery drawn up by DR.. Mathews:
First-Motor nerves contain or con-
sist of a colloidal solution the colloidal
particles of which carry positive cleo
trical charges.
Second-Nerve (protoplasm) is stimu-
lated by the passage of the colloidal
particles from a condition of a solution
to that of collation., or jellying.
Third-This change is brought about
by the action of ions, electrically
charged atoms or groups of atoms,
which bear negative charges The
stimulating action of any chemical
compound depends on these negative
charges. These ions (anions) having
one charge, are less efficient than those
with or are three. In other words, the
stimulating action of any ion is pro-
portional to the number of negative
charges it bears.
Fourth-The colloidal particles of the
nerves are held in solution by posi-
lively charged ions, sodium, potassium,
calcium, hydrogen, etc, and the effec-
tiveness of these ions in preventing
stimulation varies directly with the
number of positive charges they bear.
A one-charged ion such as sodium, is
less poisonous than three-charged,
such as iron.
Filthy these facts chemical slim
ulation is shown to be identical with
electrical. Whenever in any part of a
nerve negative charges are in excess
the nerve is stimulated, that is, the
eolloids pass from a solution to a jelly,
The stimulus always arises at the ka.
thode or negative electrode.
Sixth-The irritability of nerve Is
diminished whenever the solution OF
the colloids is rendered more perma-
rent. 1t increases as the nerve APP
proaches the collation. state. All posi-
lively charged ions thus diminish irri-
liability, negative increase 1t. This ex-
plains electrotonus, as the irritability
of the nerve Is increased near the ka-
thode and reduced at the anode.
Seventh-Heat diminishes the irrita-
bility of the nerve by rendering the
solution more stable; cold increases IL
by rendering it less stable. At high
tempert lures collation. takes place and
the nerve is stimulated.
Eighth-The nerve is stimulated me-
chemically because the colloidal parti-
cles are forced together. AS they coal
esce their surface becomes less. Less
positive charges can reside on 1t and
part of the negative charges previously
induced in the surrounding water are
set free and Immediately precipitate
the next group of colloids.
Ninth. These in their turn set free
negatives which precipitate the next
group, and so the nerve impulse is
carried. Technically these nerative
charges are called the negative varia-
ton, an dthis stimulates each success
sive element of the fferve.
Tenth. Anaesthetics all dissolve fat
They reduce the irritability of the
nerve or protoplasm because the col
loids in the nerve are largely fat COM
pounds and more soluble in a mixture
of ether and water than In water alone
All anaesthetics render the colloidal
solution more permanent and prevent
gelation.
Eleventh. Besides the number of cleo
trlcal charges in the ions there is some
other factor which determines the ac-
ton OF salts. The potassium Is mo.e
effective IN reducing irritabilty than
sedan; Hour inc is far more effective
as a stimulant than chlorine, although
all carry only single charge. 1t is be-
lieved that this difference of efficiency
Is monovalent anions or kations is de-
pendent upon the rate of rotation OF
the electron or the positive or negative
point charge about the atom with
which II Is associated. The electron ro-
tates about the fluerine atom about
twice as fast as about the chlorine
atom
Twelfth. The stimulating action OF
any union or the poisonous action OF
any kation is hence a function, second
of the rate of rotation of these charges
and third of the circumference of their
orbits.
Thirteenth. Chemical stimulation is
thus by the electro magnetic theory OF
light, shown to be identical with slim.
ulation by light waves. The stimulat
ing action of any anton increases as
the spectrum of that anton approaches
the ultra violet
Fourteenth. The long light waves
and heat waves are in their action like
those of the positively charged ions.
Robbed of this scientific phraseologN
and set forth in ordinary language thi,
becomes more easy of comprehension
In the first place 1t is necessary to un
dargtand hpnGfon N Arct 40