520 



the termination of nerve-fibres in voluntary muscle, and to Kiihne's 

 recent observations, the author proceeds to state that his researches 

 have led him to the conclusion that every elementary fibre is abun- 

 dantly supplied with nerves, which form a network and lie upon the 

 surface of the sarcolemma. They do not penetrate through this 

 membrane. The nerves never terminate in points, neither can any 

 elementary fibres, or any part of a muscle, be found to which nerves 

 are not freely distributed. 



The nerves run for the most part with the smaller arteries, and 

 come into very close relation with the capillary vessels. The ele- 

 mentary fibres of the tongue and diaphragm of the white mouse are 

 nearly covered with nerve-fibres and capillaries. Generally, the 

 muscular fibres of mammalia and birds receive a much larger supply 

 than those of reptiles and fishes. The muscular fibres of some in- 

 sects appear to receive a most abundant supply. 



As the nerve-trunks approach their distribution the individual 

 fibres divide and subdivide, as was demonstrated long ago by "Wagner. 

 The fibres resulting from the subdivision often pursue a very long 

 and complicated course by running parallel with other fibres derived 

 from different trunks, until, after being traced for some distance, it 

 is not possible to follow them. Fine trunks composed of from three 

 to seven or eight fibres can often be seen traversing the muscle. 

 The fibres pursue different directions ; some dip down between the 

 elementary muscular fibres, some pass and form with others from a 

 different source small compound trunks, while others may be traced 

 onwards for some distance ; the individual fibres which gradually 

 separate from each other being distributed to different parts, in suc- 

 cession, of several elementary muscular fibres. When the finest 

 nerve-fibres can be seen passing round the elementary muscular fibre, 

 they clearly consist of very delicate flattened bands. 



Of the oval bodies or nuclei. Connected with all nerves in every 

 part of the body, sensitive, motor, vascular, and probably in all 

 animals, are little oval bodies or nuclei, which are the organs by 

 which the nerves are brought into the closest relation with other 

 textures. The nerves multiply at their distribution by the division 

 of these little bodies, and upon them their nutrition and the mani- 

 festation of the nervous phenomena depend. A great number is 

 associated with perfection of nervous actions, and v ice versd. They 

 are found very freely connected with the vascular nerves, are abun- 



