DR. BEALE, ON NERVE-FIBRES. 17 
4. That many of these very fine fibres are directly con- 
nected with ganglion-cells upon the outer surface of the 
bladder. 
5. It is certain that many ganglion-cells have no dark- 
bordered fibres whatever in connection with them; but the 
author has demonstrated that some ganglion-cells are con- 
nected with dark-bordered fibres. 
In considering the function of this most elaborate and 
beautiful nervous arrangement, it must be borne in mind— 
1. That the muscular fibre-cells and vessels of the blad- 
der are freely supplied with nerves. 
2. That nerves ramify upon the surface of the mucous 
membrane. 
3. That the bladder contracts when the nerve-fibres, dis- 
tributed to the skin of the animal, are irritated, and its 
contraction seems also to be under the influence of the will 
of the animal. 
The author thinks it probable that the nerves, distributed 
to the muscular fibre-cells of the bladder, are branches of 
the same trunks as those distributed to the vessels, and 
are connected with the ganglion-cells. As already stated, 
the numerous nerve-fibres in the cornea and other fibrous 
tissues are purely afferent, and through the centre into 
which they are implanted, they influence the motor fibres 
distributed to the nearest vessels. In the bladder there 
are afferent fibres corresponding to those in the cornea, and 
efferent or motor fibres distributed to the vessels, and also 
to the muscular fibre-cells. 
Whether the dark-bordered fibres are purely sensitive, or 
whether some spinal motor fibres thus pass directly to the 
bladder, the author is unable to say. It is probable that 
the fine fibres running with the dark-bordered fibres of the 
bladder correspond to those in the same sheath with purely 
motor or sensitive dark-bordered fibres. It is, however, not 
possible to discuss this question advantageously until many 
points in connection with the general distribution and func- 
tion of the different classes of nerve-fibres are cleared up. 
The most important of the many conclusions arrived at 
from this investigation is the demonstration of numerous 
fine nerve-fibres around capillary vessels, and the inference 
that there are afferent fibres corresponding to and in- 
fluencing the efferent or vaso-motor branches distributed to 
the small arteries. The inference that all small arteries and 
the fibres of unstriped as well as striped muscular fibres are 
freely supplied with nerve-fibres, is also most important. 
VOL. IV.—NEW SER. B 
