110 On the Apparent Relation of Nerve to Connective-tissue 



most distinct is given at Fig. 1, where a moderate size nerve branch 

 is seen coming off from a larger trunk, and running for some dis- 

 tance amongst the tissues, until it seems to thrust itself against 

 the body of a very marked connective-tissue corpuscle and there 

 stop. In the other cases the nerve branches were much finer, 

 though apparently as perfectly united to the corpuscles. 



Finding these occurrences so rare, and as Nature does not 

 generally deviate from unity of plan, or is mostly true to herself, 

 I felt much hesitation in accepting these appearances as afford- 

 ing examples of perfect union between the substance of the two 

 tissues. 



It may be argued in the figure given, this is a case where the 

 nerve branch has returned upon itself, for at the apparent junction 

 the nerve is seen to be blunted and larger than on the other part of 

 its course ; also at about midway of its length is a very distinct 

 loop, one side of which may be formed by the returning fibres 

 escaping from the sheath for a short distance, and then re-entering 

 it to pass back to the main trunk. 



As these cases are so few, we have to be guarded in our con- 

 clusions, but the greater number of instances that can be furnished 

 may at last establish these relations as a rule. As the parts had 

 not been disturbed by tearing asunder the tissues, the relationship 

 had not been interfered with, and no compression had been used, for 

 the previous loss of many slides, by endeavouring, through slight 

 pressure, to bring out more clearly some obscm^e points, generally 

 ended in rendering the specimen worthless. 



In Fig. 2 is represented a nerve branch passing through a con- 

 nective-tissue corpuscle, or if it do not pass through, the nerve and 

 corpuscle appeared to be in absolute contact by their outer sur- 

 faces ; the latter view I expect is the more correct one. In these 

 often flat-branched structures, even the most careful focussing with 

 the use of high powers, owing to the refraction of these bodies them- 

 selves, will sometimes not admit of a positive conclusion, for the 

 underlying object or nerve branch may have so imbedded itself in 

 the overlying part as regards the plane of vision, as to be virtually 

 in its centre yet beneath its boundary. 



In the figures given by Moseley in the afore-named Journal, little 

 doubt can be left of the real fusion of the two elementary tissues ; 

 hence this is a point well worth research, the result of which may 

 be to invest the connective-tissue corpuscles with an ofiice higher 

 than some are disposed to attach to them, and show how they 

 may be directly influenced by any nerve current, and at the same 

 time relieve them from the suspicion of being only post mortem 

 effects. 



These remarks are not intended for a moment to throw discredit 

 on the observations of others, for opinions are much divided amongst 



