Show I low How Nerve Messages Are Ate Transmitted by y Electricity NEW YORK New New light on how low you think think the the electrical means by which messages are arc transmitted through th the nerves of the body body body- was body was as presented to toa a meeting of the American Physical society here Drs Kenneth S. S Cole and Howard J. J F. F Curtis of the department of phys phys- of Columbia university's College Col Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons described described de de- de scribed the new experiments on this most baffling of scientific problems They said The exact mechanism by which a nerve transmits its message is not understood at the present time but ut it has long been known mown that a nerve impulse is in part part at least electrical in nature e. Measuring l Electrical l Properties In Jn order more fully to understand understand under under- stand the process of ot excitation it is necessary to measure the electrical properties of the nerve In the same way as it i is necessary to measure the electrical properties of a wire before its current carrying ability can be predicted This paper reports reports re re- re ports such measurements on rest rest- ing nerves It was found that the membrane surrounding tl tho individual ual nerve fiber offers a high re resistance re re- sistan e to the passage of an electrical elec current which means that the ionic carriers of electricity find difficulty In getting through this membrane On the other hand Its electric capacity that thit is its ability to store stora up eI electrical energy is high Thus an electrical current can pass into or out from rom a nerve nerv fiber without causing it to lose any of ol its dissolved dissolved dis dis- solved salts which are arc essential to I the life of of othe t the e celL Work is now in progress progress' to determine the change it if any in these properties when the tho nerve is in a state of ot excitation |