208 STUDIES IN ELECTRO-PHYSIOLOGY 



Physiological. 



Electrical. 



it.*-*, 



Fig. 112. Fig. 118. (-4/ter Schafer.) 



PHYSIOLOGICAL. A, large pyramidal cell of cerebral cortex, human. Nissl 

 method (Cajal). a, axon ; 6, cell body ; c, apical dendron ; d, placed between 

 two of the basal dendrons, points to the nucleus of a neuroglia cell ; diagram 

 reversed. Seven other branches, presumably dendrons, or collaterals, are shown, 

 and these must interlace, by means of their arborisations, with other cells. 



ELECTRICAL. B, battery ; a, axon or line-wire ; b, insulating cover or 

 capsule ; c, rf, e, g, h, i, j, k t branches from outer globe. 



while, if it was desired to retain an afferent impulse at any 

 point, no condenser would be inserted at that point. 

 Physiologically, of course, the dendrons would inductively 

 connect with neighbouring cells by means of their arborisa- 

 tions ; electrically the condensers, when inserted, would be 

 connected more or less as shown in Fig. 114. 



It is quite evident, however, that this explanation of 

 the functioning of a multipolar cell is insufficient. Suppos- 

 ing the inner and outer globes to act as a Leyden jar, all 

 the impulses, efferent and afferent, would be conveyed 

 simultaneously with each discharge, and while Nature does 

 not waste any impulse but utilises it in the motor, secretory, 



