524 L. S. ROSS 
anastomose and not infrequently contain nuclei. Antoni evi- 
dently does not consider the trophospongium as a reticulation 
of fibers but rather as an anastomosis of partition-lke walls. 
Holmgren evidently has the same conception of the structure 
as that given by Antoni. 
There seems to be a practical agreement of opinion among 
investigators that the trophospongic material is fibrous in its 
general character and that it originates from gha or other non- 
nervous cells; but while some hold it to be of fibrous walls others 
evidently think it a reticulation of threads. Nuclei and blood 
capillaries have been observed in the trophospongium by different 
investigators. 
Quite early the question arose concerning the relationship 
between the trophospongium of Holmgren and the internal 
reticular apparatus of Golgi. Holmgren’s opinion that the 
structures are identical, by many investigators, is believed to be 
without justification. Holmgren believes he has good ground 
for the opinion that the canals for the conveyance of nutrients 
. in the cell body (‘Saftkandlchen’) and the Golgi apparatus 
are identical and that the ‘Saftkandlchen’ are developments by 
a dissolution process of the trophospongium. In a recent paper, 
1914, he upholds the opinion he has maintained for more than 
ten years. Further, Holmgren is of the opinion that the tracheal 
capillaries of the insect cell are identical with the trophospongium 
and the Golgi apparatus. In his interpretation of the relation- 
ship between the trophospongium and the Golgi apparatus 
Holmgren does not have many supporters. A number of in- 
vestigators share the opinion that the theory is untenable, and 
express a belief in the distinct individuality of the two structures. 
After the study of sections of quite a number of nerve cells 
from the grasshopper and cockroach, it is my opinion there is 
not much probability of any relationship between the tropho- 
spongium and the tracheal capillaries of the insect. The capil- 
laries penetrate some of the nerve cells of the insect as delicate 
tubes which are direct continuations of the tracheae invaginated 
from the ectoderm during embryological development. The 
