146 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 
6th. In a bundle of nervous tubes the cylinders of the axes 
give rise to transverse fibres, which traverse the walls of the - 
tubes and communicate with the transverse fibres of the 
other cylinders. 
7th. In the entire length of a cylinder of the axis the 
groups of transverse fibres which part from a section of axis- 
cylinder are not found placed at the same level, but at a nearly 
equal distance from one another. 
8th. The transverse fibres of the axes are met with in the 
anterior and posterior roots of the spinal nerves, but it is 
possible that they may be wanting in the others. 
9th. We know that the cylinders of the axes are surrounded 
in the nerve-tubes by the myeline (white substance), which 
scarcely ever colours with cochineal, and in the pieces pre- 
pared with Canada balsam it has always the aspect of an 
amorphous granulated mass. 
10th. Various sized tubes enter into the composition of the 
bundles of nerve-tubes, viz., large, fine, and very fine. The 
fine and very fine tubes vary in position and number; they 
occur in the antcrior and posterior roots of the spinal nerves, 
particularly the latter, and have the same structure as the 
~ ordinary large tubes. 
11th. It is very possible that the fine and very fine tubes 
belong strictly to the brain, where they are found as predomi- 
nating, if not exclusive, elements of all the white substance. 
12th. Each nerve contains, as it were, an anatomical sub- 
stratum of brain. 
Then fcllows some further details with regard to the struc- 
ture of the central organs, which appear to be of considerable 
interest. The results of the pathological investigations of the 
author are, however, the most important, bearing, as they do, 
on the nature of the action of narcotics, &. They are given 
as follows: 
Ist. After having poisoned cats, dogs, and rabbits, by strych- 
nine, nicotine, opium, and chloroform, the author remarked 
that they all modify or alter the nerve-tissue. 
2nd. The most energetic of these poisons alter the nerve- 
cells and their branches; the other poisons, such as chloro- 
form, opium, and alcohol modify the white substance. 
3rd. The alterations after nicotine were indicated by the 
strong pigmentation and destruction of the nerve-cells with 
their prolongments, but this only in the spinal cord, where 
the vagus and hypoglottic nerves commence. In this case 
(nicotine) the nerve-cells and their branches assume a deep- 
brown colour, and have an aspect of disorganization. 
4th. Under the influence of these poisons the author 
B 
