1 80 fournal of Cojnparaiivc Neurology and Psychology. 



moniliform condition is not an expression of the plasticity of the cell 

 as certain authors have claimed. 



In a later contribution Geier ('02) presents important data upon 

 the development of the protoplasmic processes as well as upon their 

 form in the adult. He has studied by the Golgi method the cells of 

 the spinal cord of rabbits of different ages; one day, two weeks and one 

 month; and of kittens at birth and at three days, seven days, one 

 month and two months old. The two series of experiments lead to 

 the same conclusions: the protoplasmic processes of the anterior horn 

 cells are less regular in outline in the new-born than in the adult. As 

 the animal grows the outline of the processes become more regular and 

 the process straightens. In the new-born the dendrites have a more 

 regular contour in the region of the cell body than in the distal region, 

 and the process of straightening progresses from the cell body outward. 

 As for the dendrites of the posterior horn, Geier finds it difficult to 

 determine whether there is any such change accompanying growth as 

 he describes for the anterior horn cell. This difficulty arises from the 

 fact which he demonstrated in his earlier work and which his pres- 

 ent investigation confirms, that the dendrites of the posterior horn of 

 the adult are normally very irregular in outline as compared with the 

 dendrites of the anterior horn cells. He finds, however, that there 

 are certain cells in the anterior horn which have very irregular den- 

 drites. He considers them commissural cells. In his youngest speci- 

 mens he found the varicose condition of the dendrites very conspicu- 

 ous, but less marked in the older specimens. The condition tends to 

 disappear as the animal grows. 



Golgi^s Endocellular Net. 



SouKHANOFF ('02) has made a specific study of Golgi's endocel- 

 lular net in the cells of the cerebral cortex of mammals by modifica- 

 tions of the GoLGi method. He finds this net only in a zone around 

 the nucleus, although it does not lie directly upon the nucleus. Sur- 

 rounding the net is a zone of protoplasm which is noticeably clearer 

 than the rest. Some of the filaments of the net are fine, others are 

 coarse, still others are ribbon-like. Often they are of irregular contour. 

 In some small cells the net consists of only a few curls of the filaments, 

 and it is a much simpler structure in the cortical cells than it is in the 

 cells of the cord and spinal ganglia. In general form the net conforms 

 rather closely to the shape of the cell. Sometimes one branch of the 

 net, sometimes two or three, pass out into the process. 



In the intepretation of the endocellular net Soitkhanoff speaks 



