Dubois-Reymond's Law
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Dubois-Reymond's law states that the strength of nerve and muscle excitation depends not on the strength or density of electrical current, but on its oscillation. The excitation is stronger when the oscillation occurs more rapidly within the same limits or when the oscillation is greater within the same time period.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
Dubois-Reymond's Law of nerve and muscle excitation: the strength of nerve stimulation, and consequently the contractile muscular effect, does not depend on the strength or density of the electrical current, but on its oscillation, wherein the stimulation will be the stronger, the faster this oscillation occurs within the same limits, and also-the greater this oscillation is within the same time period. Therefore, it is possible to completely destroy muscular and nervous tissue without causing muscle contraction, if by slow and gradual (by means of a rheostat) increase in current strength, it is brought to a magnitude that kills living substance.
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“Dubois-Reymond's Law.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/dubois-reymond-law/