99 



cytoplasm exhibiting deeply stained, massive bodies, branching, 

 and anastomosing, ^ith each other through more slenier connec- 

 tions. The several individual masses are disposed in such a 

 way as to give the appearance of enclosing the nucleus as with 

 an open net.vork. The bodies fade away as they enter the den- 

 drites, and there is no appearance of their having communica- 

 tion with the exterior such as has been described by Holmgren 

 ('99a, '99b). Pig. 57 represents the appearance of this series 

 of structures. 



It is doubtless necessary to avait further researches in 

 many distantly related fields before we attempt to pass final 

 judgment as to the significance of tne perinuclear reticulum, 

 bat the hypothesis noted by Golgi (1900) is one flhich certain- 

 ly deserves our consideration. The appearance presented by 

 the network may be caused, not by solii bodies at all, but by 

 a series of coramunicating canaliculi filled with a fluid which 

 is deeply colore! by certain stains. Such a reticular canal- 

 system woull probably take no part in the irritable life of 

 the cell as such, but would function on a lower plane of pure- 

 ly vegetative character. 



The neurones of the roof-nucleus come into intimate rela- 

 tions witn the nerve-fibres of the stratum medullare profun- 

 dum. The dorsal decussation between the opposite halves of 

 the stratum carries a strong bundle of fibres across the me- 

 dian plane immeiiately above this group of neurones (?'ig.55, 

 dc.s.m.o, ) There are to be found here numerous instances of 



