CHAP. XXI.] THE SYMPATHETIC NERVE. 133 



more justly regarded as a nerve originating from the sympathetic 

 ganglion, which by some of its fibres connects that ganglion to 

 the ganglion on the posterior spinal root, and by others is distributed 

 to the vessels of the cord. This is the conclusion which Mr. Beck's 

 recent researches have led him to adopt, and the careful examination 

 of his very able dissections induces us to believe this to be the cor- 

 rect view. 



The white root, or the bundle of tubular fibres, when traced to 

 the spinal nerve, appears like a branch of it, i.e., a series of fibres, 

 separating from it, and passing to the sympathetic. It derives 

 fibres in nearly equal numbers from the anterior and the posterior 

 root. In every instance it may be seen, spreading out upon the 

 adjacent sympathetic ganglion, passing through its vesicular matter, 

 and following the course of the trunk of the sympathetic for a longer 

 or shorter way, and then proceeding from it in connexion with its 

 gelatinous fibres chiefly to viscera. Mr. Beck informs us that 

 he can, under the microscope, distinctly trace the continuity of 

 these fibres through the ganglion, and he is of opinion that they do 

 not form any organic connexion (as some fibres in ganglia and 

 other nervous centres undoubtedly do) with the vesicles of the 

 ganglion, beyond that which might result from passing between 

 them. These fibres, then, according to this statement, must be re- 

 garded as a branch of the spinal nerve, distributed in connexion 

 with gelatinous fibres derived from the sympathetic ganglion to 

 viscera and other parts. 



If this view of the anatomical relation between the sympathetic 

 ganglia and the cerebro-spinal nerves be correct, it seems evident 

 that the proper sympathetic fibres must be viewed as a separate 

 portion of the nervous system, consisting entirely of gelatinous or 

 nucleated fibres which originate in the vesicular matter of the sym- 

 pathetic ganglia. These fibres, however, are accompanied in their 

 course by tubular fibres, derived from the cerebro-spinal nerves, 

 which pass over or through the sympathetic ganglia without form- 

 ing any intimate connexion with them, and which are distributed 

 along with the gelatinous fibres to viscera and other parts. 



1. Of the Cephalic Portion of the Sympathetic. This portion of 

 the sympathetic consists of ganglia, which occupy different parts of 

 the head, and are connected with each other, and with the superior 

 cervical ganglion. They are four in number : 



1 . The Ophthalmic Ganglion. 2. The Spheno-palatine, or MeckePs 

 Ganglion. 3. The Otic Ganglion, discovered by Arnold. 4. The 

 Submaxillary Ganglion. 



