THE TERMINOLOGY OF THE NERVE CELL. 1 

 Pierre A. Fish, D.Sc, 



Instructor in Physiology, Vertebrate Zoology and Neurology Cornell University, 



Ithaca, N. Y. 



The confusion resulting from the promiscuous and indis- 

 criminate use of the various nomenclatures relating to the mor- 

 phology of the brain, has also reached the deeper and more 

 delicate structures. The recent discoveries in the histology of 

 the central nervous system have involved to a greater or less ex- 

 tent the introduction of new terms and the re-arrangement of 

 old ones. The situation at present is any thing but desirable 

 although perhaps unavoidable. Clearness is the first law ot 

 science, and while on account of an insufficiency of words repe- 

 tition may be necessary, the terms selected ought to be far 

 enough removed from their original use to prevent any misap- 

 prehension in their new application. 



Custom has long sanctioned in some instances the use of 

 the same name for two constituents located in different parts of 

 the same system. An example of this is found in the term 

 ' ' ganglion "or " ganglionic cell. ' ' The strict significance of this 

 term should limit its use to the nerve cells found in the peri- 

 pheral ganglia and not permit its indiscriminate application to 

 the cells of the central nervous system. It is undoubtedly true 

 that the title of the article or the connection of the text assists one 

 in obtaining a correct understanding ; but it is safer and much 

 preferable not to rely upon the connection or dependence of 

 ideas to make the meaning obvious when terms intrinsically 

 correct are at hand. 



Still another example might be mentioned in the use of the 



Presented at the Washington, D. C, Meeting of the American Anatom- 

 ists. May, 1894. 



