GoDDARD, Movements of Nen'e Cells. 245 



constitute another possibility of geotropic orientation. Surely 

 it seems that, while otolith and otocyst are probably devices for 

 strengthening and rendering more definite the geotropic re- 

 sponse, yet it may turn out in the end that protoplasm itself 

 possesses geotropic irritability. 



An Experiment to test recent Theories as to Movements 

 OF Nerve Cells. 



By Henry H. Goddard, 



Clark University, Worcester, Mass. 



The following experiments of Mr, Goddard were reported 

 by Dr. Hodge : 



Considerable attention has been directed in recent years 

 toward attempting to explain various functional states of the 

 nervous system, hysterias, sleeping and waking, even psychic 

 conditions, association of ideas, memory and forgetting, by 

 amoeboid movements of nerve elements. For the most part, 

 when announced, these theories have had about as much found- 

 ation in experimental evidence as similar ancient theories as to 

 flow of " spiritus animalis " or ideas of making and breaking of 

 electric contacts between nerve fibers and nerve cells, before the 

 fibers were discovered to be outgrowths of the cells. 



In line with Ramon y Cajal's theory, that the dendrites 

 represent receiving poles, attention has tended to focus on these 

 processes, especially on their terminal twigs and more especi- 

 ally still on their gemmular expansions, the "contact granules." 

 Berkley, in 1895, in chronic alcohol poisoning, and in 1896, 

 with a number of other pathological conditions, pointed out the 

 fact that the terminal twigs of the dendrites, as well as their 

 proximal portions in some cases, presented, instead of their 

 usual appearance, a beaded, moniliform, varicose condition, 

 with very few contact granules or none at all. He naturally 

 attributed these appearances to the pathological causes in ques- 

 tion, although, before doing so, it would have been safer logic 

 to have studied first the possible changes dependent upon 

 phases of normal function. About the same time Demoor (La 



