Journal of Applied Microscopy. 617 



structures with alveolar formation, as well as actual lumina lined by one or 

 more layers of cuboidal or cylindrical cells. Metastases showed a similar 

 appearance. 



Twenty-eight cases of similar embryonal tumors were collected, tabulated, 

 and divided into three groups : first, those with sarcomatous structure, epithe- 

 lial gland-like structures, and smooth muscle fibers ; second, those similar to the 

 above but with striated muscle ; and third, those containing also other tissues as 

 cartilage. In most cases the kidney structure was not preserved, hence the 

 writer concludes that the embryonic aniage of the kidney was involved as well 

 as the Wollfian bodies. a. m. 



NEUROLOGICAL LITERATURE. 



Edith M. Brace. 



Literature for Review should be sent to Edith M. Brace, 

 131 Park Avenue, Rochester, N. Y. 



I I I M n n c T, -J f , T., • The address presents some general 

 Langley, J. N., F. R. S., President of the Physio- ^ ° 



logical Section of the British Association, conclusions regarding certain problems 

 Opening Address. Nature, 60: 557-562, in neurology. Stress is laid upon the 



point that in any broad classification, 

 not more than two tissues — striated and unstriated muscular tissue — are known 

 to be supplied with approximate completeness with efferent nerve fibers, and that 

 we have immediate control over but one tissue — -the fibrous striated muscle tissue. 

 The nervous system has limited control over cellular activities. It may affect 

 the secretion of a gland, but as far as we know, it does not affect such life pro- 

 cesses of the gland as the taking up of oxygen and the giving out of carbonic 

 acid, the essential effect of a nerve impulse appearing to be the modification of 

 the amount of energy set free as work. 



The fibrous striated muscle tissue is the only one over which we have imme- 

 diate control, and the tissue, with the nervous system supplying it, may be placed 

 in a separate class as somatic or voluntary tissue. 



It seems probable that in the evolution of mammals the sympathetic nerves 

 developed at one time, and the cranial and sacral involuntary nerves at another. 

 This hypothesis is based upon the fact that nerves from the two regions usually 

 produce different effects, while fibers passing by spinal nerves to any one part of 

 the involuntary system produce effects that may vary in degree, but not in kind, 

 in that part. With regard to inhibitory fibers, their development cannot be 

 looked upon as universal throughout the organism any more than the develop- 

 ment of motor fibers. There is not sufficient evidence for the theory of an equal 

 endowment of tissues with nerve fibers. 



With regard to specific nerve energy, it seems certain that the different 

 classes of nerve cells and fibers do not have the inherent differences required by 

 this theory, although there may be some comparatively superficial differences to 

 explain the selective power observed. 



