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On the Anatomy of NERVE-FIBRES and CrELLs, and the 
Uxtimate Disrripution of Nerve-risres. Three De- 
monstrations delivered by Professor Lionet S. Brats, 
M.B., F.R.S., at King’s College, on January 16th, 23rd, 
and 30th, 1863. Abstract and Remarks by G. V. Craccio, 
M.D., of Naples. 
Proressor Brae has been giving, in connection with his 
course of Physiology at King’s College, several demonstra- 
tions ‘On the Practical Use of the Microscope, and the 
Structure of the Simple Tissues of the Human Body.’ In 
each lecture eleven microscopical specimens magnified from 20 
to 700 diameters, and illustrative of the subject of the lecture, 
have been passed round a class of nearly one hundred students 
and medical gentlemen, and many most difficult points 
relating to this very important branch of study have been 
demonstrated and studiously discussed. We propose to give 
a short account of the specimens illustrating three of the 
most interesting of these demonstrations on the structure of 
nerves and ganglia, and on the origm and termination of 
nerve-fibres. Although we believe that many of the readers 
of the ‘Microscopical Journal’ are well acquainted with Dr. 
Beale’s researches on the general anatomy of tissues, and 
his views upon structure and growth, it seems to us to be 
necessary, before proceeding to the description of the speci- 
mens, to give a brief sketch of his views on the hystology of 
the nervous system, which have resulted from other observa- 
tions made during the last three years. 
Dr. Beale holds strongly to the opinion that the nerves, 
in every case, are continuous in the nervous centres, with 
the substance of the nerve or ganglion-cells, and, at the 
periphery, with other small masses of germinal matter, com- 
monly termed nuclei. He maintains that there are no true 
ends to be demonstrated, and that nerves never shade off into 
or become continuous with other tissues. Although often in 
very close relation with the elements of other textures, the 
nervous still exists as a distinct tissue. The nuclei or cor- 
puscles above referred to are found in connection with all 
nerves at their peripheral distribution. They are generally 
oval, although they may sometimes exhibit the triangular or 
other form, and they always constitute an essential part of 
the nerves. Their number varies greatly, not only in the 
nerves, which are distributed to the different parts of the 
