406 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VOL Ie 
far as it pertains to the nerve cells of adults, the name of Nissl granules 
will suffice. It will be shown later that this name, in some cases at least, 
implies an incorrect inference as to the mode of occurrence of the 
chromophilous substance in the cell. 
The chemical properties of the ,Nissl granules have been studied by 
Held,’ Eve, Mackenzie,’ Biihler® and others. | Held found the granules 
were soluble in dilute alkalies, did not digest in pepsin and hydrochloric 
acid, were not acted on by acids and gave no reaction with Millon’s 
reagent, Adamkiewicz’s or the xanthoproteic tests. Held, however, 
obtained a positive reaction for phosphorus by the employment of 
Lilienfeld and Monti’s test for that element. He concluded from these 
reactions that the Nissl granules were of a nucleo-albuminous nature. 
Eve, however, was doubtful whether the granules were really dissolved 
in the alkali or were merely altered in their staining powers ; and found 
that after treatment with acids or salt solutions, the granules stain more 
diffusely. Bithler found the granules were soluble in salt solutions as 
well as in alkalies. It has recently been observed that nuclear chromatin 
gives with the Millon reagent a definite reaction, and Macallum’ has 
shown that the reaction of Lilienfeld and Monti does not differentiate 
the phospho-molybdate, formed by the combination of the molybdate 
employed and the phosphorus of the cell, from the ammonium molybdate 
which has simply been absorbed and retained. 
The only undisputed evidence, therefore, adduced by Held in favour 
of the nucleoproteid nature of these granules is their resistance to 
digestion. His conclusion is, however, further supported by the obser- 
vation of Mackenzie who obtained, after treatment with acid alcohol, a 
reaction for iron in the granules. 
In the present research the micro-chemistry of the nerve cell has been 
reinvestigated by the more recent methods and the results indicate that 
Held’s conclusion is correct, although, as we have seen, based on insuf- 
ficient grounds. 
3 Held, Hans, ‘‘ Beitrage zur Structur der Nervenzellen und ihrer Fortsatze.” 
Erste Abhandlung, Archiv. f Anat. u. Phys., Anat. Abth., p. 396, 1895. 
Zweite Abhandlung, ibid, p, 204, 1897. 
4 Eve, F. C., ‘‘Sympathetic Nerve Cells and their Basophil Constituent in Prolonged Activity and 
Repose,” Journal of Physiology, XX, p.7334, 1896. 
5 Mackenzie, J. J., ‘‘Investigations in the Micro-chemistry ot Nerve Cells,” Report British Assn.,. 
Toronto Meeting, p. 822, 1897. 
6 Bihler, Anton, “ Untersuchungen iiber den Bau der Nervenzellen,’ Verhandlungen der Phys. 
Med. Gesell. zu Wiirzburg, XXX1, p. 285, Verlag von Stahel, 1898. 
7 Macallum, A. B., ‘On the Detection and Localization of Phosphorus in Animal and Vegetable 
Tissues,” Proceedings of Reval Society of London, Vol. LXIII, p. 467, 1808. 
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