230 Journal of Comparative Neurology. 



ordinated with the commonly accepted titles of the encephalic 

 segments ( e. g. , Aquaeductus Sylvii and Iter a tertio ad qnartuni 

 ventncidum for incsocoelia )^ 



§55- In respect to terminologic practice, before the publi- 

 cation of any paper or book there was made a list of the Latin 

 terms to be employed, with abbreviations thereof, and these 

 were adhered to throughout. 



§56. Notwithstanding their defects, these efforts to im- 

 prove anatomic language elicited favorable comment, helpful 

 criticism, and more or less actual adoption from Oliver Wendell 

 Holmes ('81), Joseph Leidy ('85, '89),' Henry F. Osborn 

 ('83, '84), E. C. Spitzka ('81 ) and R. Ramsay Wright ('85). 



§57. HI. 1884-1888. Although now satisfied as to the 

 correctness of the general system and as to the excellence of 

 most of the individual terms, I began to realize more fully the 

 magnitude and difficulty of the task and the necessity for coun- 

 sel and cooperation. In the summer of 1884, at my sugges- 

 tion, committees were appointed by the American Neurological 

 Association and the American Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science. The constitution of these committees (§ 80) 

 insured that no hasty action would be taken, and warranted the 

 hope that any conclusions reached by them would be consid- 

 ered seriously here and abroad. Personal conferences were held 

 when practicable, but most of the work of comparing views and 

 preparing preliminary reports was done by correspondence. 



§58. As collaborator on a medical dictionary (Foster, 

 '88-'94), I undertook to obtain a list of names already applied 

 to parts of the central nervous system. In 1888 the total was 

 10500, distributed as follows, in round numbers : Latin, 3100; 



1 Nothing in my terminologic experience has been more gratifying and en- 

 couraging than the approximate coincidence of a similar proposition by T. Jef- 

 fery Parker ('82, '84 ) 



^ While engaged upon the new edition of his " Anatomy," Professor Leidy 

 wrote to me under date of Jan. 20, 1885: "I wish to aid in reforming the 

 nomenclature of Anatomy, and in doing so propose to Anglicize the names to 

 some extent (§46). Will you please look over this list of muscles and tell me 

 whether I can do better with any of the names." Ten days later he submitted 

 a list of the many terms. Many of my suggestions were adopted. 



