40 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



tions which are directed to the upper surface of the epidermis. They 

 can he traced within the cell up to the granular zone. In favourable 

 cases there can be distinguished on the cud part of the continuation 

 a spindle-shaped enlargement and delicate wavy threads ("terminal 

 thread-apparatus"), which pass through the granular part of the cell. 

 lie also describes amitotic divisions and constrictions in the nuclei of 

 these cells. 



Structure of Human Hypophysis.* — V. Scaffidi finds that the 

 human hypophysis exhibits two fundamental kinds of cell which are 

 sharply distinguished from one another, viz. one stainable with I )range G. 

 and the other with Acid fuchsin. The cyanophile cells of Schonemann 

 are to be regarded as fuchsinophile elements in an advanced phase of 

 elimination of plasma granules. The nuclear masses and the isolated 

 nuclei (the definite characters according to which they are recognisable 

 as belonging to the fuchsinophile cells) must be regarded as an ex- 

 pression of the last phase of this elimination process. Probably the 

 other nuclei which are surrounded by narrow fringes of protoplasm (to 

 which the qualities of the above do not belong) may be considered as 

 fuchsinophile cells in a stage of reconstruction. Two forms of cell 

 colourable with Orange G are distinguishable, to which two different 

 functional phases can be ascribed. Both the fundamental types 

 (Orange (1 and Acid fuchsin) have probably the function of elaborating 

 definite substances which together represent the secretion of the gland. 



Research Methods on Human Brain.f — P. Flechsig gives a con- 

 cluding paper containing critical observations on research methods on 

 the cerebral cortex. 



Contraction of Smooth Muscle Cells. £ — E. Forster states that 

 these cells contract in such a way as to coil up spirally. This is true 

 for smooth muscle cells, for heart muscle, and for the diagonally striped 

 cells of amphibia. The nucleus shares passively in this spiral con- 

 traction, so that it is rod-like when the cell is passive and wound spirally 

 as the cell contracts. The extent of contraction of the cell may be 

 known from the degree of the nuclear spiral. The " Stauchung" 

 *' Faltehmg" " Schlangelung" of the nucleus spoken of by various 

 authors, and the " nuclein-spiral " described, is nothing other than the 

 spiral contraction here explained. 



Lymph Hearts of Rana.§ — M. H. Hover finds that the lymph 

 hearts, like the blood hearts, are very perfectly developed organs, in 

 which the entrance and exit is exactly regulated by a system of valves. 

 The circumstance that there are several lymph hearts on each side has 

 probably its explanation in the phylogenetic development of the Anura. 

 The larvse are provided on each side with several lymph hearts, and 

 Weliky has shown that the Urodela possess a large number of these 

 segmentally arranged . 



* Arch Mikr. Anat., lxiv. (1904) pp. 235-57 (1 pi.). 

 + Her Sachs. Gus. Leipzig, lvi. (1904) pp. 177-248. 

 J Anat. Auzeig., xxv. (1904) pp. 338-55. 



* Bull. Intern. Aca>l. Sci. Cracovie, v. (1904; pp. 22S-37. 



