The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-02
Prof. MATHEWS Makes Som,
Very Important Discoveries.
ELECTRICITY AS A FACTOR
Action Of AnassihstIrs is GHsn an lugsnu'
Gus fIplanaiIon BY Tho orofsssNs
Theug Scanilsls interested.

Chicago. III. Jan. e.-Professor Jacques
Loeb. OF the University OF Chicago. hSv'
Ing hrst aa15aaced 10 his fellow scientists
The duty Of at least one step IN The prob
lem Of longevity. today discovered ne
physical processes That accompany life'
that electricity and not heat energy is
she basis Of NE.
He does not claim 70 have solved the
problem Of what IS NE = but 20 have
proved a theory which completely over
throws a portion Of the teachings OF teS'
books on physiology
lie was on the prescribed program for
four distinct papers. but he combined all
he did say under the one theme OF The
physical Effects OF the Electrical Charge
ot Ions and the Electrical Character OF
life Phenomena.
eThc energy of food stuffs, he said as
g conclusion. "and the motions of the
heart arc not after all due to the pro-
duction OF heat but 10 the chemical en-
ergy IN electrically charged molecules.
"A part Of the chemical energy Of food
stuffs is transformed into electrical en-
muscles and organs of the body.
Dr Loeb desrrihed his experiments
with 4 icllv FISH and explained that when
he placed the FISH into a solution electrl-
cally charged. such rs salt n responded
while when he subjected II 60 solution
that was "a nou-conductor. II did not re-
spond. Proceeding from further expert
1ncnts. he found;
First that the muscles contracted
ihvihmicallv IN solutions which had
these electrical charges
second. that the contraction OF tho mus
slss depends on tho number OF charges
on the different ions or pieces OF mole
snles
sga.axes. n, said. had learned from eN-
,ilts of A- discoveries
which science Is JUST beginning 70 make
fn this direction in that they found the
foods which gave the most energy, inc
largest amount ~ vitality and produced
the most healthy physical Ondiions.
Having concluded the announcement Of
Ills discovery before the members OF The
physiolo9y section. or. Loeb iacln"d TO
discuss them further and OUTSIDE soitniihc
armosphore hli Prof,~~or A, Z Nat
thcws HIS coworkcr. authorizes ttc fol-
lowing summary
Motor nerves contain or consist Nt
..slloida solution. of which thc colloidai
particles carr, positive electrical charges,
Nerve lnroiopasinl l. stmulltol by tho
passage of ihe colloidal particles from a
condition of q solution 60 thar of selttnp,
This change Is brought about by the
action ~ inns-i a.. electrically charged
atoms or groups OF atoms. which bear
negative ciarges The stimulating action
uf ary chemical compound depeAds on
these negative charges. Those t % hav-
ing one charger are loss efficient than
fhose with two OF three
sTbe collodal Particles OF the nerve are
held in solution by positively charged
ions sodam. potassium calcium, etc"
and thr Effectiveness OF these ions in pre-
venting stimulations varies directly with
the number OF positive cAarseS they
bear
LIKE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION.
.sBv these facts chemical stimulation Is
shown TO be identical with electrical.
Whenever IN any part OF nerve nega-
tive charges are in eXceee. the nerve IS
stirnulpted-- e.. the collode pass from
solution 80 a jelly The stimulus al
ways arises az the cathode or negative
electrodc
The irritability OF nerve Is diminish
ed whenever the solution Of the collp'ds
Is rendered more permanent IL increases
az the nerve approaches the goiutine
state. All positively charged ions thus
diminish irritability, negative increase II.
This explains Cectfoton--i. a.: the irri.
liability OF the nerve Is reduced lear the
aDode and Increased at the cathode
Heat dlminishes the irritabiiity OF the
nerve BY rendering the soInuon more sta
bio Cold incrcases " by rendering u less
stable AZ high temperature selation
,coHgulationD takes place and the nerve
is stimulated
''The nerve ~ stimulated mechanically
bccause the coiloidal particles are forced
together As they coaiesce their surface
becomes less, less positive charges cnn
reside on a. and part OF the negative
charges previously induced in thc sur
rounding water are temporarily set FREQ
in their neighbOrhOod.
"rhc negative charges thus set free pre-
ciptate the next layer OF collolds. which
IN ther tlrr, set free negative charges.
This pro cipitates the next layer. and "a
this way ihc nerve impulse Is carried
Technically these negative charges are
called tho negative variation. and this
stimulates each successive element OF the
nerve
HOW ANAEsTHETIcs ACT.
Auaeefhetics 9'l dissolve fat They re-
dyce the irritability OF the nerve or pro-
toplasnl. bCcalse tho c0iioids in the nerve
fprotopiasm grt largely fat corrroupds