OF THE ACTION OF BIOPLASM OF NERVE FIBRES. 205 



mined in nerve organs by the arrangement of the 

 fibres and centres in short, by the form or structure 

 of the nerve apparatus. And this form and structure 

 are the result of a long series of changes of the most 

 complex character, which cannot be fully explained 

 in the present state of our knowledge, but can be 

 proved to be dependent upon the bioplasm. And 

 since it has been shown that the nervous system at 

 an early period consists entirely of bioplasm, and 

 that in the fully developed state there is much 

 bioplasm associated with those parts of it which we 

 know to be most active, especially all nerve centres 

 and all peripheral nerve organs, it is obvious that we 

 cannot advance one step towards a true explanation 

 of the phenomena until we have determined the exact 

 nature of the changes which occur in this bioplasm. 



A consideration of the facts renders it probable 

 that the nerve fibre in all cases transmits the nerve 

 current as a conductor, an d that pressure, &c. , upon any 

 part of its course will affect the rate of transmission 

 of the current and the conducting property of the 

 fibre, but it is almost certain that the current actually 

 originates in the bioplasm, or in the soft formed ma- 

 terial on its surface. 



That the masses of bioplasm, which I have shown 

 to be numerous in the fine nerve fibres of nerve 

 organs, besides taking part in the tformation of the 

 fibres, are concerned in nervous action, appears there- 

 fore to me probable from the following facts : 



1. They are very numerous ioa. the peripheral rami- 

 fications of #11 snerves. 



U. All special peripheral nerve organs, as the re- 

 tina, the expansions of the olfactory and auditory 

 nerves, the papillae of touch and taste, as well as the 

 peripheral nervous expansions beneath sensitive mu- 

 cous membranes, the skin, &c., are remarkable for 

 the great number, and some of them for the large 

 size, of the masses of bioplasm. 



