22 ON THE MINUTE STRUCTURE OF 
from its pointed end to the nucleus, its length is 1-33rd of an inch. These 
measurements are between three and four times greater than any which 
Professor Kélliker has given for the human intestine, and considerably exceed 
the length of the ‘ colossal fibre-cells’ which he describes as occurring in the 
gravid uterus. The individual fibre-cells, with their nuclei and transverse 
markings, if they have any, are quite distinctly to be seen with one of Smith 
and Beck’s ,*, object-glasses. But in order to examine their structure minutely, 
a higher power is required: that which I use is a first-rate ,’,, made several 
years ago by Mr. Powell of London. All the figures in Plate II, except 
17 and 18, are from camera-lucida sketches, reduced to the same scale. 
The principal measurements of the fibre-cells from the pig’s intestine are as 
under :— 
Length of fibre-cell, 3 . : : ; : : =z inch. 
Breadth of ditto ; 5 ; : : F Eee 
Length of nucleus of ditto . : : : ; [conn 
Breadth of ditto 5 : : : : : : SEE 
Breadth of fibre-cell, 16 ee 
Thickness of ditto : ; ‘ A : 5 ab06 
Length of fibre-cell, 13 ; ; : : Ih ; oO» 
Breadth of ditto ; : ; : : s5 Ol 
Longitudinal measurement of nucleus of ditto. : Eee 
Transverse, ditto ; ; £ ’ ‘ : : s55 
Length of fibre-cell, 15 7 : ; : ; : ee 
Hence it appears that the length of the most contracted fibre-cell is the same 
as that of the nucleus of an extended one. The fibres vary somewhat in 
breadth, independently of the results of contraction. Thus, one in the ex- 
tended condition which I sketched, but which is not here shown, measured only 
1—4000th of an inch across. The nuclei of the uncontracted fibres are very con- 
constantly of the same length, and are good examples of the rod-shape to which 
Kolliker has directed particular attention. They always possess one or two 
nucleoli, and have often a slightly granular character; occasionally, as in 
Fig. 21, they present an appearance of transverse markings. One frequently 
sees near the nucleus of a fibre that has been artificially extended from the 
contracted state, an appearance of a gap in the substance of the cell, forming 
a sort of extension of the nucleus, as if the fibre generally had been stretched 
more completely than the nucleus: an example of this is presented by Fig. 7. 
Mr. Ellis lays great stress on a dotted appearance which he considers character- 
istic of involuntary muscular fibre. I must say I agree with Kdlliker in finding 
