New-York tribune., 1902-01-03
PROF. LOEB'S THEORY.
DIR. ]. LEONARD CORNING GIVES HIS
VIEWS ON ELECTRICITY AS AP-
Piled TO HUMAN ENERGY.

Before the theory advanced by Professor jacques
Loeb OF tho University Of Chicago. that electricity
and not heat energy is the basis of life can be ac
cepted fact by medical and scientific ntn IT
must be corroborated beyond question of doubt
by other workers IN research fields. There are
many capable workers In the field in which Pro-
fessor Loeb Is prominent, aid IL is thought that
the announcement of Professor Loeb may stimu-
late them to take steps prove the value Of the
professors theory the force underlying nervous
manifestations. Many Investigations for the pur-
pose OF throwing more light the question to
what gives energy 10 the muscles and organs OF
the body have been made In the last five years and
the majority of these Investigations still under
way Few Of the investigators in these lines have
revealed to the public the results far obtained
by them and those of their members who have
spoken have said nothing startling. DR.. J. Leonard
Corning. one of the leading experts diseases OF
the nervous system in this city, was asked by a
Tribune reporter yesterday afternoon for his views
on the announcements made by Professors Jacques
Loeb and A P. Mathews.
In my opinion the drift OF evidence" said DIR.
Corning rs not in favor OF regarding l!fe cleo
tricity convertible terms
That electricity may be evolved IN the course
OF nerve action may be readily conceded but to
conclude from this that the force which is active
in motor nerve and which issues the excitatlon
and contraction OF the muscle is electrical is quite
another matter
Moreover, 1t is matter OF experimental demon
stration well [ result of ordinary expert
enCe that mental processes or all kinds require
certain amount OF time for their accomplishment"
Continuing. he said:
The length OF time consumed is in the direct ratio
Of the cOmPlexity OF the mental act To illustrate
made upon the retna Of the eye. and that as soon
as that impression is perceived the subject
records the interval of time between the perpheral
pnrposy fe s6 ca e same IN 'hf
will be found, as result OF series OF observa-
pirate apparatus that the average time in difrer-
ent persons is from one-tenth 10 two-twelfths OF
If. however, instead of making single i'm
we make heterogeneous ones. as W When red and
blue are displayed in indefnite order and the sub
color red appears. the interval of time is at least
i 5 as IS lTs tb dS M afdlonai nal CONSUMPTION OF time
to take cognizance of the impressions. but dis
tinguish and select from them. Hence. the use
of the discrimination time TO designate this
more ore con comPicatet variety of psychical reaction AS
reaction time to touch, hearing and sight but what
the fact that the duration of the reaction period
short as It appears when judged by the standards
than It would be were the force at the root Of
The question the nature Of the force under
ylng nervous manifestations has been pet theme
rational attack upon the problem was however
apparent tli physiology. both experimental and
upon. thanks to genius giving effect its in
Casd t9[ons tmT9ggh induction through adToity con
number of facts regarding nervous activity which
which it not though the ultimate Ts secret
OF its nature remained still unsoIved
When Galvant first demonstrated that the appIf-
cation of electric currents (even feeble onesC was
capable OF causing a motor nerve TO express it's
activity by muscular contraction, il was immedi-
ateIy assumed that electricity and force were
nnally solved. II was presently shown however. by
in the nerve-if current il may be CaIed-was in
fnitely below that of the electric fluid. whereupon
previous opinions were discarded inCOnttnentlv II
being held to be inconceivabe that electricity
could account for the phenomena
Sfi rhar str thara h,-t
fact presently appearing that certain chemicals
latter to behave I'm very much the same way as
when the nerve was exposed TO the influence of the
electric current. From this and cOgnate considera
tions ideas of structure, etc) the so-Called
chemical theory of force.
Then there is the molecular theory In which
the agitation is conceived as progressing from
an initial shock. IL were, after the man
ner of bricks standing on top of another
which fall seriatim at the toppe of the highest
in the pile or as the spark moves forward in a
train of powder to fire the blast o mine Various
notifications of these theories have been brought
forward from time TO time buttressed by plausible
reasoning. less more.
DR.. LOeb's theory far may Judge Of II
from the dispatches regarding IL received from Chi
cago. is such modification To what degree II is
entitled to greater countenance than its predeces-
sorS depends upon the extent and character OF the
new lnducttve data which he is able TO bring
forward to support it,