THE STEUCTUEE OF THE SPINAL COED OF THE OSTEICH. 



BY 



GEORGE L. STREETER, M. D. 



Assistant in Anatomy, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. 



From the Dr. Senckenberg Anatomie, Frankfort-on-Main. 



With 6 Text Figures. 



It is related by Herodian how the Kaiser Commodus beheaded ostriches 

 and then watched them with delight and wonder as they continued run- 

 ning about the amphitheater, apparently to no great extent inconven- 

 ienced by the loss of their heads. That which served Kaiser Commodus 

 as barbarous amusement frames itself for us into an interesting anatomi- 

 cal problem, and calls to mind a similar phenomenon so often observed 

 among the domestic fowls. What is, then, this arrangement of the nerv- 

 ous elements of the spinal cord of a bird that enables it to functionate 

 so completely after separation from the higher centers ? 



Our present knowledge and methods do not suffice for a complete ex- 

 planation of this problem, but we can lead the way toward a future solu- 

 tion if we study out what can be learned at present concerning the his- 

 tology of the bird spinal cord. In this sense, under the suggestion and 

 guidance of Professor Edinger, I have undertaken the investigation of 

 the structure of the spinal cord of the ostrich (Struthio camelus) . This, 

 beyond all other birds, distinguishes itself by the great length of its spinal 

 cord, and, in comparison with the brain, its great size. 



TtI flip lltpT"Clfm>Q ■fr'nn-itnr,-!- >.^-P«-««*, - - -* _ _ T i ii 



EEEATA TO VOL. III. 



■ MAKE THE FOLLOWING CORRECTIONS IN 



DE. E. G. HAEEISON'S PAPEE ON: "AN EXPEEIMENTAL 

 STUDY OF THE EELATION OF THE NEEVOUS SYSTEM TO 

 THE DEVELOPING MUSCULATUEE IN THE EMBEYO OF 

 THE FEOG;" 



Page 209, line 14. Instead of "substances" read "substance"; instead of 

 " nerve " read " muscle." 



Page 218, line 1. After " on " insert " the development of." 



