xxviii Journal of Comparative Neurology. 



DeTelopment of the Ear of Amblystoma. 



H. VV. Norris describes the origin of the auditory vesicle in Am- 

 blystoma Jefersoniafium and A. punctatum.^ He finds no indication of 

 a connection between the cavities of the saccus and the cranium such 

 as has been described by Haase. In the primary utricular region 

 three sensory patches are developed : the cristae of the anterior and 

 horizontal canals and the macula of the utricle. From the saccus five 

 sensory patches develop : the crista of the posterior canal, the macula 

 neglecta, macula sacculi, the papilla lagenae, and the papilla basilaris. 

 The paper is illustrated by two plates. 



Skin Sensations of Central Origin.^ 



This interesting paper illustrates the existence of pruritic and 

 other sensations whose cause is strictly central. Such subjective sen- 

 sations are common in neurasthenia and only occur in neurotics. The 

 author finds the cause in morbid changes in cerebral nutrition. Some- 

 times the pruritis announces itself suddenly and after mtolerable local 

 itching for some time ends as abruptly with the particular phase of the 

 malady it accompanies. If toxasmic, the natural remedies would be 

 such as might correct faulty nutrition but it is admitted that the actual 

 results are not in conformity with the hypothesis. The paper sug- 

 gests a field worthy of more attention than it has thus far received. 



Nerve Terminations in Taste-buds. 



Lenhossek* has reached conclusions very similar to those recently 

 published by Retzius. The nerve fibres always end free in the bud. 

 In the rabbit two sorts of nerve termini are encountered. The peri- 

 gemmal and intergemmal branches, the former being probably a sub- 

 epithelial plexus which contains a large number of small fusiform or 

 multipolar cells. The author hesitates to regard these as nerve cells 

 but withholds judgment. Respecting the gustatory cells the author 

 says "they represent short nerve cells devoid of processes, the func- 

 tion of the processes being assumed by those of other cells." Ex- 

 cept in the olfactory regions vertebrates afford no illustration of the 

 structure described in the earth worm where the epithelium cell sends 

 its processes into the central nervous system. 



^Journ. Morph. VII, i. 



^Bremer, L. Itching of Central Origin. Review of Insanity and Nervous 

 Disease. Dec. 1892. 



2 Der feinere Bau und die Nervenendigung der Geschmaksknospen. Anat. 

 Anzeiger VIII, 4. 



I 



