116 THE MEMBRANOUS LABYRINTH, BY PROF. RUDINGER. 



v. Grimm,* who has also observed the black coloration of the 

 fusiform cells of the ampullae of Cats, on the application of 

 perosmic acid. A dark tinting of the nucleus is sometimes ob- 

 servable in the simple columnar cells, but I have never been 

 able to see the dark striae in these. 



I am still doubtful in regard to the presence of the basal cells 

 resting on the structureless border of the tunica propria described by 

 Max Schultze, as I have been unable to bring them into view in situ 

 in very thin sections. In one instance only in a large Salmon I thought 

 I perceived striae indicating a series of cells resting on the basement 

 membrane. If the whole epithelial layer be detached from the tunica 

 propria, no regular series of cells can be perceived resting upon the 

 basement membrane, nor can several regular series of cells be dis- 

 tinguished in the detached layer of nerve-epithelium. M. Schultze 

 has already made the observation that the basal cells do not occur 

 through the whole extent of the ridge of the crista acustica, but are 

 for the most part situated in the marginal regions. 



As soon as the fine nerve fibres which it is impossible to dis- 

 tinguish from the isolated axis-cylinders have penetrated into 

 the loose epithelial layer, they form frequent anastomoses, and 

 thus produce a plexus which both at the points of intersection, 

 as well as in the course of the fine fibrils, exhibits numerous 

 enlargements. I have occasionally been able to bring this net- 

 work very clearly into view. The nature of the swellings, 

 however, still remains doubtful ; for I am unable to regard them 

 as ganglion cells, as Reich has done, notwithstanding that 

 many recent observations tend to prove that nucleated enlarge- 

 ments in fine nerve fibres are to be considered as ganglionic 

 elements, as in the case of the granule layers of the retina. 

 Fibres proceed from the fine nervous plexus, which run verti- 

 cally in the epithelium; and, from the results of numerous 

 observations, I believe it may be admitted that the fibres 

 which enter into the fusiform cells represent the continuation 

 of the nerves. And if, on account of their assuming a black 

 tint in perosmic acid, the dark striae and the nucleus of the 

 fusiform cells are to be regarded as nervous structures, we may 



* Bulletin de V Academic imperial des Sciences de St. Petersbourg. 



