AFFERENT PATHS OF SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM 497 
bladder and traced them through two and through three small 
ganglia of the same bladder. 
I did not succeed in finding in the literature anything more 
definite; therefore I believe that we are authorized to come to the 
conclusion that till now descriptive anatomy has not specified 
the origin of the so-called Kolliker’s nerve fibers. 
B. Experimental researches (Scaffidi (9)) show that injuries 
to the thoracic sympathetic ganglia led to distinct alterations 
of the stainable substance in the cells of the corresponding spinal 
ganglia, especially in some cells lying in the peripheral portion 
of the same. 
C. Experimental researches demonstrate that in the rami 
communicantes albi are to be found large medullated fibers 
which fall into secondary degeneration only when cut off from 
the corresponding spinal ganglion, where consequently we must 
look for their trophic center. 
Roux (10) cut, in the cat, anterior and posterior roots in the 
proximal tract (between spinal ganglion and spinal cord) and 
stated that many medullated fibers were to be found undegen- 
erated in the corresponding ramus communicans. He further 
routed out the spinal ganglion and verified the degeneration of 
these fibers. From his own researches he came to the conclusion 
that the nerve cells from which the fibers mentioned arise are 
located in spinal ganglia. 
Seafiidi (9) arrived at similar results and conclusions from 
analogous experiments, substituting, however, for the extirpa- 
tion of the spinal ganglia a less injurious, more appropriate, 
operation. After having confirmed that cutting the proximal 
tract of the dorsal nerve root and the anterior root never produces 
degeneration of all of the medullated fibers of the ramus com- 
municans, he cut the dorsal root caudad, viz., peripheral to 
the corresponding spinal ganglion, and so was able to see the 
degeneration of all the medullated fibers of the ramus com- 
municans. 
Of late Ranson and Billingsley (11), to whom the paper of the 
Italian investigator seems to have been unknown, performed 
similar experiments, but studied the preparations also by the 
