The Electrical Properties of Isolated Frog’s Skin

Abstract

In two previous papers in this Journal (Francis and Pumphrey, 1933 ; Francis, 1934) the relation between the potential across pieces of isolated frog’s skin and various environmental factors has been described and discussed. In the work there described the potential was measured by means which were virtually electrostatic and no appreciable work was done by the skin. In this paper is described a method by which the potential can be measured during and after the performance of electrical work on or by the skin. Certain features are common to all the electrical phenomena manifested by cells and tissues and it seems likely that in all cases the basic mechanism is the same. It is probable therefore that the results here described will eventually be of service in the interpretation of the electrical behaviour of nerve and other excitable tissues, where on account of the structure of the tissue such experiments are difficult or impossible of performance.