1247 



After all we know about it, it is very improbable that tliej have 

 anything to do with the mechanical mnscletoims, known as the 

 Bhondgekst (onns. It is verj prol)able (hal this one is exclusively 

 due to the simple motor nervefibres. While considering this, tfie 

 "chemical muscletonus" occurs to us, (he existence of which and 

 its dependence on the sympathetic nervous system, if not proved, 

 is certainly not made ujiplausible by Mansfki.d and LuKacs. When 

 we realize these two hypotheses, most of the difficulties and stiange 

 contradictions, created by de Boeh's theory, which are evident in 

 VAN Rijnberk's (able, disappear. 



By the formula, just mentioned, the mechanical muscle tonus 

 being governed by the cerebro-spinal nervefibres, the chemical one 

 by the centrifugal sympathetic system of Boeke, these difficulties 

 disappear altogether and with them an important factor of confusion 

 has been done away with. Van Runberk repioached me for having 

 contributed only critical woik with negative results; nobody better 

 than I myself realize this; yet I believe (hat (his work was 

 necessary and 1 find the best argument for this in (he two 

 preceding hypotheses. I hope that these hypotheses will shortly be 

 based on indisputable experimental facts. In my opinion evei-ything 

 points to it (hat this will be highly probable. I shall be the last to 

 maintain that by these facts our knowledge of (he nature of the tonus 

 of the striped muscles has been much deepened. What the tonus 

 really is, is as obscure and mysterious as before. 



