93 REVIEWS, 



to US rather instructive. In the first place, we have the cross 

 line of the transparent space, or " the transverse plate of 

 Krause," as it is now named. Now this tranverse plate was 

 not only referred to by '' the English observer Martyn and 

 others," as Professor Frey says, but described by almost every 

 English authority from an early date. A very distinct figure 

 is given in old editions (but omitted in later editions) of 

 ' Carpenter's Human Physiology ' (we quote the fourth, of 

 1853) though certainly interpreted in a very difierent way ; 

 the clear space is seen divided by a tranverse line, and 

 a similar light space figured at the side of each muscular 

 element ; appearances which led Dr. Carpenter to regard the 

 muscular elements as cells. This view of the structure of 

 muscle. Dr. Carpenter states in a foot-note, was published 

 simultaneously by himself and by Professor Sharpey, both 

 statements being founded on some preparations made by Mr. 

 Lealand, the optician. The same fact had also been previously 

 recognised by Dr. Goodfellow and Mr. Erasmus Wilson. So 

 that the " transverse line " itself was anything but a novelty 

 when attention was drawn to it by Krause. The latter 

 observer, however, not only described, he founded chiefly 

 upon that an elaborate theory of the structure of muscle, 

 which, whether accepted or not, has always been regarded as 

 possessing in a high degree the merit of originality. In 

 Professor Frey's words : 



'^ Krause holds a very peculiar view in respect to the 

 structure of muscle. He regards the dark cross line just 

 mentioned as the optical expression of a delicate transverse 

 partition springing from the sarcolemma, which divides the 

 interior of the muscle fibre into a number of discoid compart- 

 ments built up one over the other. The contents of such a 

 compartment would consist from below upwards of (1) half of 

 a transparent transverse zone ; (2) of a dark zone occupying 

 the middle {i. e. of a transverse disc of sarcous elements) ; and 

 (3) of another half of a transparent cross zone. Krause 

 believes also in the existence of a delicate lateral membrane, 

 investing closely the sides of the sarcous elements and ends of 

 its transparent appendages, and uniting with the transverse 

 membrane. In this way he supposes the elementary structures 

 of the striped fibres to be formed — the so-called muscle cas- 

 kets [or compartments]. In longitudinal rows they constitute 

 the fibrillse. This author also believes the clear longitudinal 

 and transverse cementing medium to be liquid, and that 

 during contraction the layers of fluid flow from the end 

 surfaces to the sides.*' 



Now, strange to say, even this peculiar theory of Krause 



