Some Aspects of Bioelectrical Phenomena.*

This brief sketch is intended as an introduction to a series of articles 1 on bioelectrical phenomena, its purpose being to present certain fundamental facts and underlying conceptions. Early in the course of the investigation it became evident that there are great advantages in using single cells in place of tissues. The experiments were accordingly made with single (multinucleate) cells of Valonia and NiteUa, which are large enough ~ to permit leading off simultaneously from several places on the same cell. This has important technical advantages and eliminates certain complications 3 which always arise in the study of tissues. In addition it enables us to find out to what extent changes in any part in the cell may affect other parts. A study of such effects and of their transmission in protoplasm may be expected to throw some light on the propagation of stimuli in general and on the constitution of living matter. Another advantage attending the use of these cells may be mentioned here. The study of bioelectrical phenomena has been hampered because nothing could be measured except potential differences between selected spots, and it has been impossible to determine the