Publisher's Synopsis
A review from "The American Journal of Psychology," Volume 24 [1913]:
THIS is a collection and systemization of a series of papers published during the last five years. In physiology to-day there is a great deal of work with the artificial stimulation of tissue, and induction shocks are usually used for this purpose. For quantitative work it is necessary to have an exact measurement of the intensity of the shock in order to control one's own experiment or to repeat those of some other investigator. This book is an exposition for the calibrating of induction apparatus so that the value of the shocks may be expressed in stimulation units and so that the calibration can be determined in any ordinarily equipped physiological laboratory. Martin does not present a new method but rather an extension and systemization of other methods of recognized worth.
The factors which may affect the strength of the faradic current are:
I. Variations in the primary coil, due to (1) the amount of current yielded by the source; (2) the key whereby the current is made or broken.
II. Variations in the secondary coil, due to (1) the position of the secondary with relation to the primary coil; (2) the electrical resistance of the tissue which is being stimulated; (3) the contacts between the stimulating electrodes and the tissue to which they are applied. These factors can all be determined mathematically and a clear and lucid explanation is given of the determinations of these variables.
Besides different inductoria present structural differences which may cause variation, due to (1) the dimensions and the number of turns of wire; (2) the presence or absence of the iron core; (3) the difference in physiological shock between the make and break. These are also determinable mathematically and the methods for obtaining these determinations are given. There is also another variable factor considered which, however, is not capable of mathematical determination: the effect on the stimulus of the manner of making and breaking the primary current. Although the effect of this factor may not be calibrated, still rules are given by means of which it may be kept constant.
The author gives a straightforward description of the procedure for making these various determinations with only enough theoretical material so that these procedures may be clearly understood. A short, concise description of the various apparatus and devices used is also included along with very helpful diagrams. The reader need not fear being plunged into a complicated theoretical mathematical discussion as the book succeeds in what it purports to be, -"a manual rather than an exposition of principles."
