I was thinking the same thing as below (Christopher Green). If memory serves, Helmholz published the research on conduction speed in an earlier physiology text. I think the conservation of energy was presented as a mathematical proof without empirical verification. I don't feel certain on the title but it was something like "On the Conservation of Force" (not even going to try the Deutsch!) and the pub date should be 1846 - 1848 range- I want to say 1847 but I'd really need to look that up to verify it before saying so in class. :) It is interesting that I seem to remember the German word he used in the title specifically avoided a term that translates directly as energy so I'm not even willing to say he was talking about Conservation of energy which, to a physiologist at the time would be a different idea altogether. Tim
-----Original Message----- From: Christopher Green [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2005 8:51 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences Subject: Helmhotz and frogs Yesterday on TIPS, someon asked about hos Helmholtz wenst about measuring the amount of energy put into and expended by a frog (to prove conservation of energy in living things). I've done a bit of searching and consulting over the past day, and it appears at this stage of my investigation that there was no such experiment conducted by Helmholtz. His work on conservation of energy (1847 -- see my "Classics in the History of Psychology" site) was theoretical. There may have been (much) later experiments done by others along the lines suggested, but I have not been able to find exact references. Helmholtz's primary work with frogs involved his measuring the speed of neural transmission, not conservation of energy. The two ideas may have become confused with each other (as with many of these popular historical myths), resulting in the idea of an experiment on conservation of energy involving frogs. Regards, -- Christopher D. Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.yorku.ca/christo Office: 416-736-5115 ext. 66164 Fax: 416-736-5814 --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
