FEELING AND TOUCH. 



393 



part; in the tongue, for instance, they have a finger-like 

 formation, or exhibit numerous divisions. It was formerly 

 supposed that the nerves in them terminate in loops ; but 

 now that small terminal organs, especially adapted for the 

 purpose, have been discovered, this latter view is being 

 gradually adopted ; and indeed these tactile organs are being 

 constantly met with in parts where their presence was not in 

 the least suspected. These terminal organs are small ovoid 

 bodies, or tactile corpuscles (of Meissner and Wagner), gen- 

 erally of the shape of a pineapple, or of some simpler and less 

 regularly formed shape (corpuscles of Krause), at the base 

 of which we find from 1 to 4 nerve filaments which pene- 

 trate, and appear to be lost in the substance of the cor- 

 puscle (Fig. 101, A). If these nerve threads are cut, the 



Pig. 101. Vascular and nervous papillae of the pulp of the fingers.* 



sensibility of the papillae containing the corresponding ter- 

 minal organs ceases, and these organs change into a small 

 mass of fat ; in persons whose sensibility is paralyzed, only 

 small drops of fat are found in the place of these organs ; 



* The epidermis and Malpighi's network have been removed. A, Nervous 

 papilla, with a tactile corpuscle, into which enter two primitive nerve fibres, ; 

 at the base of the papilla are seen fine elastic nets, e, from which proceed fine 

 fibres ; between and in the midst of the latter are seen corpuscles of the connec- 

 tive tissue. B, C, D, Vascular papillae, simple at C, with loops fonned by 

 anastomoses of vessels in B and D. Near these vessels are seen fine elastic 

 fibres and corpuscles of the connective tissue, p, Papillary body, having a 

 horizontal direction, e, Stellate elements of the corium. 300 ilium. (Vir- 

 chow.) 



