Prentiss, Pctipheral Netzvorks. 115 



peripheral portion of a neurite from a sensory ganglion cell. It 

 seems to me rather that in these networks of nerve cells and 

 fibers we have to do with primitive nervous structures more or 

 less independent of the central nervous system, structures which, 

 as Bethe points out, correspond to the diffuse nervous system 

 of many invertebrates, and which are connected, on the one 

 hand with the integument, and on the other hand with the non- 

 striated musculature. 



SUMMARY. 



1. The palatine branch of the Seventh cranial nerve forms 

 a plexus of meduUated fibers in the palate of the frog; from this 

 plexus fibers pass, to end by branching in the sensory organs 

 of the epithelium, 



2. The innervation of the sensory organs of the palate is 

 not as diagrammatic as has been asserted; a diffuse network of 

 neurofibrillae connects different sensory neurones, and puts the 

 sensory organs into communication. 



3. A network of cells and non-medullated fibers extends 

 throughout the deeper layers of the palate and forms a close 

 meshwork about the walls of the vessels. 



4. Immediately beneath the epithelium is found another 

 network of cells and fibers; sensory fibrils from it end in the 

 epithelium, and it is also connected with the perivascular 

 network. 



5. The fibers of the networks are nervous structures for 

 (a) they are not demonstrated by specific stains for elastic and 

 connective tissue; (b) they are composed of neurofibrillae; (c) 

 they are often directly continuous with medullated nerves. 



6. Neurofibrillae are present in the cells of the networks, 

 but most of them pass through without forming a basket- 

 work about the nucleus. 



7. When the nerves of the palate are isolated from their 

 ganglion cells the medullated fibers which end in the epithelium 

 degenerate at the expiration of 25 to 35 days; the myelin 

 sheaths disintegrate, and the axis cylinders fail to stain. 



8. Under the same conditions both the cells and fibers 



