Electrical potential oscillations in the recently reported salt-water
oscillator(refs.1,2) and its non-electrolyte analogues have been criti
cally examined.It turns out that these oscillations are oscillating st
reaming potentials.Taking a clue from these studies it has been possib
le to design a non-electrolyte(urea)analogue of Teorell membrane oscil
lator and demonstrate oscillating electrical potential differences acr
oss the membrane. Bistable nature of these systems which represents a
far equilibrium situation has been studied.