Ernst Fischer: Thirty Years of Service at the Medical College of Virginia

Dedication essay by Ernst Huf to Dr. Ernst Fischer, who recently retired after thirty years of service to the Medical College of Virginia

Rate of Diffusion of Radioactive Ions in Gels

A simple gel-to-gel method is described for the estimation of diffusion coefficients (D) of radio-isotopic chemicals. Cold and hot gel cylinders, enclosed in small hypodermic syringes with their needle ends cut off, were carefully joined together, and diffusion was allowed to proceed for several hours. Slices of gels were then obtained for counting of activities. Application of the classical theory of diffusion permitted calculations of D values

On the Nature of the Resting Frog Skin Potential

In this paper some of the highlights of research on the nature of the resting frog skin potential have been presented. Reviewing a period of about 30 years, it was the intention to show that several key problems have been recognized by a number of investigators who, through their experimental work, have tried to find unequivocal solutions to such problems as follows: a) The number and location of electrogenic layers (barriers) within the rather complex epidermis. b) The characterization of these barriers in terms of specific permeability properties. c) The electrical response of the two sides of the skin to changes in ionic concentrations in the solutions at the skin surfaces. d) The role of intra-epidermal active ion transport in the generation of the skin P.D. e) The correlation between active ion transport, skin P.D. and intra-epithelial (intracellular) electrolyte distribution