DR. LEE ON THE NERVOUS GANGLIA OF THE UTERUS. 273 



was surrounded by innumerable extremely minute threads, coiled and contorted, such 

 as one finds the component of elastic tissue, and the ultimate element of cellular 

 membrane. 



Under slight pressure, however, the tube was plainly discernible, containing gra- 

 nular matter, not uniformly distributed, but collected in minute masses, at intervals. 

 Small blood-vessels were also seen here and there, with blood-discs within them, which 

 served to indicate the difference between the nervous and vascular tubes, and thus to 

 avoid the possibility of error. 



Being, however, aware that some of the most distinguished foreign microscopical 

 anatomists had differed as to what was the real characteristic of nerves of the sympa- 

 thetic system, I should not have troubled you with this communication had I stopped 

 here. 



Feeling, from this discordance of opinion, that there was no absolute test, or at least 

 one which was not open to cavil, I thought to try a comparison of the uterine nerves 

 with those that undeniably belonged to the ganglionic system. I traced, therefore, 

 some nerves upon the surface of the stomach, up to the great ganglion that gave 

 them origin ; and I selected some also from the small intestine. These I submitted 

 to the same microscopical power, and under the same circumstances of light, and 

 pressure, and medium. 



In all of these I observed the tubular part filled with granular matter, and similarly 

 collected in minute masses. 



I also observed that each tube was surrounded by the minute serpentine threads 

 before described. In fact so closely did they agree, in every particular, with the ap- 

 pearances presented by the uterine nerves, that it would have been impossible to di- 

 stinguish the one from the other. 



Thus by comparing the unknown with the known, despite the want of any abso- 

 lute test, I feel perfectly satisfied of the true nervous character of the very beautiful 

 plexuses you have so patiently and with so much labour developed. 



Admitting then this intricate structure to be really nervous, it is a matter of no 

 marvel that they increase in size during pregnancy. It would indeed be wonderful 

 if the nerves alone remained stationary, while the muscular and cellular, the serous 

 and mucous, and the vascular tissues increased, as it is notorious those structures of 

 the uterus do during the period of child-bearing. 



If, as is also indisputable, nerves shrink and atrophy when the function of an organ 

 they supplied is lost or destroyed, is it singular that the uterine nerves should in- 

 crease, when that organ rouses itself from inaction, to one of the most extraordinary 

 exemplifications of temporary functional vigour that the animal oeconomy can any- 

 where exhibit ? Pardon me this prolixity, and believe me. 



My dear Sir, 



Yours very faithfully, 



John Dalrymple. 

 Dr. Robert Lee, F.R.S. 



