Page:Life in Motion.djvu/181

 LECTURE VI Electrical phenomena of muscle— Current of resting muscle — Current of acting muscle— Negative variation— Animal electricity— Electric fishes— Resemblance of electric organ to muscle— Relation of muscular motion to nervous system— Conclusion.

I wish, in the first place, to demonstrate to you certain properties of muscle to which I have not alluded. I will show you that muscle has electrical properties. Let us examine some of the facts that led to the discovery of animal electricity, a discovery of the most momentous consequences to the human race.

At the back of the lecture-theatre we have placed a very sensitive galvanometer, specially constructed for the kind of work to which it is now to be put. It belongs to Professor Dewar, and was presented to him by the late Mr. Warren de la Rue, whose zeal in the cause of science is well known to all connected with