398 Dr Martin Barry on Fibre. 
In fasciculi from the spinal chord, and surrounded by spiral filaments, he 
met with a “ band-like axis,” which perhaps corresponds to that of Re- 
mak in the nerves: but if so, Dr Barry’s observations go farther even than 
Remak’s. The “ axis” described by this observer was found by him to 
be susceptible of division into filaments. So also is the one described by 
Dr Barry. But the latter adds, that each filament is a compound object, 
which enlarges, and, from analogy, may contain the elements of future 
structures, formed by division and subdivision, to which no limits can be 
assigned. The spermatozoa, mentioned in the abstract, were from the 
epididymis of a person who had died suddenly. The depression noticed 
in their discoid extremity—corresponding apparently to the “ sugient 
orifice” of some authors—is probably analogous to the source of new sub- 
stance in other discs. In these examinations, Dr Barry has generally 
added to the objects dilute spirit (sp. gr. about 0.940), containing about 
z},th of corrosive sublimate. Spirals from the leaf-stalk of the strawber- 
ry, after the addition of this reagent, were seen to have divided into pa- 
rallel filaments having the same structure as those above described. Flax 
presented a quadruple coil of such filaments. In the early states of vo- 
luntary muscle also, there were seen double and quadruple coils, evi- 
dently produced by the same means—division. Dr Barry compares the 
appearance of the vegetable “ dotted duct,” in its several stages, with 
that of objects found in the mould, in the cornea, in the crystalline lens, 
and in voluntary muscle ; all of which are produced by associations of 
minute spiral threads. The distribution of the remarkable filaments above 
described is so universal, that they are found in silk, in the incipient 
feather, in hair, in the feather-like objects from the ra of the butterfly 
and gnat, and in the spider’s web. 
Dr Barry informs us, that he has had the cuperniaty of shewing to 
several physiologists the principal appearances described in his memoir 
on fibre. And Professor Owen permits him to state, that he has exhibited 
to him spirals in voluntary muscle,—muscular “ fibrille” having a flat, 
grooved, and compound form,—the filamentous structure of the “ white 
substance in nervous fibre,’”—the vegetable spiral becoming double by 
division,—a coiled filament within red blood-dises,—and the incipient 
unwinding of the coil in coagulating blood. 
Further Remarks on Fibre. By Martin Barry, M. D., 
F.R.SS.L.& E. 
Dr Barry examined the following objects, from two of the 
Mollusea, at the desire of Professor Owen, who dissected them 
out for the purpose, namely, from the oyster,—the branchial 
