252 



SPECIAL SENSES. 



filled with cells, of which two kinds are described. The first 

 variety, the outer cells, or the cover-cells, are spindle-shaped, 

 and curved, to correspond to the w T all of the beaker. These 

 come to a point at the taste-pore. In the interior of the 

 beaker, are elongated cells, with large, clear nuclei, which are 



FIG. 



Taste-buds from the lateral taste-organ of the rabbit. (ENGELMANN, in STEICKEE, Handbuch 

 der Lehre von den Geweben, Leipzig, 1868, S. S23.) 



called taste-cells. It is supposed that nerve-fibrils are con- 

 nected directly with these cells. 1 As far as we can learn, the 

 only reason why these structures are connected with the 

 physiology of gustation is on account of their anatomical re- 

 lations to the gustatory papillae. 



It now only remains to note the ultimate distribution of 

 the nerves in the gustatory organ. Upon this point, ana- 

 tomical researches are not entirely satisfactory. However, 

 the following description, by Elin, may be regarded as prob- 

 ably correct, though the facts have not been absolutely de- 

 monstrated. According to this authority, from the submu- 

 cous tissue, small nerve-branches pass perpendicularly to the 

 upper layer of the membrane. These fibres have a varicose 

 appearance. In the most superficial layer of the mucous 

 membrane, there is a net-work of fine, non-medullated fibres ; 



1 ENGELMANN, in STRICKER, Manual of Human and Comparative Histology, 

 The New Sydenham Society, London, 1873, vol. iii., p. 9. 



