NERVE-PLEXUSESINTESTINES. 293 



number of these nervous membranes will eventually be 

 augmented. In order, however, to avoid any misunder- 

 standing, I must at once add that these plexiform expan- 

 sions are by no means simple, but that the large nodules 

 I have mentioned have the appearance of ganglions, so 

 that we have here in some sort new nervous centres pre 

 senting themselves, and affording the possibility of a 

 reinforcement of, or obstruction to, the original impulses. 

 For the functions of the part this arrangement is mani- 

 festly of great importance, for we should not well be able 

 to explain the peristaltic movements of the intestinal 

 canal, if some contrivance did not exist by which stimuli, 

 that in the first instance were conveyed only to one spot 

 in the canal, could be transferred from network to net- 

 work and from part to part. The modes of distribution 

 of nerves, with which we were till recently acquainted, 

 were not sufficient to afford anything approaching an ex- 

 planation of the nature of peristaltic action, whilst these 

 investigations of Meissner's have at once furnished us 

 with a most suitable groundwork for an interpretation of 

 it. So much concerning the general forms which are, as 

 far as we know at present, assumed by the peripheral 

 terminations of the nerves. 



On the whole, these results correspond but little with 

 the opinions which were formerly entertained, and with 

 the hypotheses still advanced by the neuro-pathologists. 

 The views of a neuro-pathologist of pure water amount, 

 as is well known, to this, that a nervous centre is able, 

 by means of nerve-fibres, to produce particular effects 

 upon all, even the smallest, particles of the territory un- 

 der its sway. If a mass of cancer or pus is to spring up 

 in any little spot in the body, or merely a simple dis- 

 turbance of nutrition to ensue, the neuro-pathologist re- 

 quires a special arrangement, by means of which the 

 nervous centre is enabled to have its influence conveyed 



