Uoyal Microscoincal Society. 253 



IV. — Beales Nerve Researches. 



Db. Beale in Eeply to De. Klein. 



(Bead hefore the Eoyal Microscopical Society, May 1, 1872.) 



With reference to the criticisms of Dr. Klein, published in the 

 April number of the Journal, I beg to offer the following remarks : — 



1. The network described by Eemak was not the same sort of 

 network that was to be seen in my specimens. 



2. Neither Schaafhausen nor Eemak have given figures like those 

 of the specimens published by me in the ' Phil. Trans.' 



3. The network described by Kolliker was different from that seen 

 and described by me. See, for example, my figure of the mucous 

 membrane of the epiglottis, fig. 70, p. 168, ' Die Structur der 

 Einfachen Gewebe,' translated by Victor Carus, Leipzig, 1862. 



4. It is not possible to decide as to jiriority in such matters unless 

 the figures given are compared. To say that So-and-so " described " 

 a network or plexus before somebody else, goes for very little unless 

 the exact sort of network or plexus is exhibited in drawings and 

 placed before the observer. Neither ought the mere " assertions " 

 of one observer to be brought forward against the observations of 

 another. 



5. My observations of the distribution of nerves to the bladder of 

 the frog were made before those of Klebs, and perfectly independently 

 of him. 



6. That intermuscular networks are not " accepted " does not 

 prove that intermuscular networks do not exist. I can show finer 

 " intermuscular " fibres than the authorities cited by Klein. It is 

 curious that the specimens of " intramuscular" nerves do not "keep," 

 while mine of " intermuscular " nerves have been preserved for years. 



7. I have, contrary to the statement of Dr. Klein, examined isolated 

 muscular fibres in the frog, chameleon, and many lizards and snakes, 

 as well as in many mammalia. 



8. As regards the distribution of fine nerve fibres amongst epi- 

 thelial cells, I have often tried to demonstrate them, but so far have 

 failed to do so. I do not say that there are no nerves in the cuticle 

 and in the conjunctival epithelium, but only that I have not yet 

 seen any specimens that demonstrate them to my satisfaction. It 

 is remarkable that those who believe in the distribution of nerves 

 amongst epithelial cells do not agree whether they terminate in ends 

 or form networks. While of all the observers who admit inter- 

 epithelial nerve fibres, it is strange that not one has attempted to 

 exj)lain how they got there, 



9. Dr. Klein fancies he convicts me of shifting my ground with 

 regard to the constitution of the finest nerve fibres seen by me. 

 Sjjeaking of me, he says, " He admits (December, 1871) that his 

 delicate fibres are compound, that they are fibrillar." He will find in 

 my paper * that it is distinctly stated that " each cord (of the network) 



* ' Phil. Trans.,' 18!32. 



