Physiology. — ''On the Peripheral Sensitive A'ervons Si/stem." 

 By Dr. G. C. Heringa. (Coimiiunicaled by Prof. J. Boeke). 



(Communicated in the meeting of February 23, 1918). 



Wlieii we endeavour to summarize our knowledge of the peripheral 

 sensitive nervous system, which is a time-consuming experience as 

 it involves the perusal of an enormous number of periodicals, we 

 shall find amidst a mass of controversial matter a number of facts 

 received by various controversialists, which, when put together, make 

 up a gratifying whole. 



In the neurological clinic the doctrine of neurons in still all but 

 paramount, but in the neuro-anatomic literature it is quite a different 

 thing. There, in spite of this same doctrine of neurons, experiences 

 come to the front pointing to the existence of a very extensive 

 continuous retiform structure of sensory Jierves close to the periphery. 

 As has been insisted upon by Apathy there exists a highly delicate 

 texture of anastomotic nerve-fibers close under the surface of the 

 body of invertebrates. This view has hardly been disqualified. It 

 is now getting more and more evident that sucli a network is also 

 to be found in vertebrates. 



Many data regarding the *'rete amielinica subpapillare" we owe 

 especially to Ruffini and his school, who based upon them his 

 theory of the "circuito chuiso delle neurofibrille." According to the 

 descriptions given by Ruffini himself, the fibers of this network 

 spring from different sources: 



1. end-branches of the ordinary medullated fibers; 



2. ultraterminals of endorgans; 



3. sympathetic fibers; 



4. ultraterminals of fibers belonging to the TiMOFEEW-system. 

 From all sides (Botezat, Leontowitch, Prentiss, Sfameni, Dogiel) 



much evidential matter tending in the same direction, has been 

 brought forward, so that no room is left for any doubt as to the 

 principal facts, though there remains some diflference of opinion 

 regarding the components of the network, and though several 

 inquirers will not go the length of subscribing to all the inferences 

 of RuFFiNi's "teoria unitaria." 



Two recent publications from the Italian school seem to me to be 



