188 STUDIES IN ELECTRO-PHYSIOLOGY: 



" The fully-formed muscle retains its syncytial char- 

 acter, and is not formed by completely separated cells.'* 

 (Schafer.) 



In conclusion, my considered opinion is that while 

 plain muscle is not transversely striated in the sense that 

 voluntary muscle is transversely striated, the longitudinal 

 fibres are bridged across by some non-conducting substance? 

 and that the chief difference in the structure of the two is 

 the absence in the former of the sarcous element. As, 

 however, the charge, instead of being neutralised at 

 various points, passes as a wave from cell to cell, the 

 sarcous element can naturally be dispensed with. 



