120 PROTOPLASMIC NERVE THEORY. 



markable for the great number, as well as for the large size of 

 the masses of germinal matter. 



" 3. The proportion of germinal matter is always very great in 

 nerve centres which are the principal seats of development of 

 the nerve power. 



"The principal change which takes place in a texture, which 

 in health appears to be but slightly sensitive, and becomes 

 eminently so when inflamed, as the peritoneum, is a very great 

 increase in the germinal matter which it contains, and this 

 often proceeds to such an extent that the ramifications of the 

 nerves appear as lines of oval masses of germinal matter, so 

 that when a tissue, which in the healthy state gives no evidence 

 of sensation, becomes acutely painful when inflamed, the feel- 

 ing of pain must be due, in some way, to an increase of the 

 germinal matter of the nerves as well as that of other tissues. 



" From a consideration of the facts, we are led to conclude 

 that the nerve fibre in all cases transmits the nerve current as 

 a conductor, and that pressure, &c., on any part of its course 

 will affect the rate of transmission of the current, and the con- 

 ducting property of the fibre. The nerve current itself results 

 from changes occurring in the germinal matter or in the sub- 

 stances formed by it, and it is probable that the masses of 

 germinal matter in the peripheral nerve organs may give origin 

 to nerve currents as well as those in the nerve centres. In 

 disease, the currents formed at the periphery of the nerves 

 probably undergo an increase in intensity" (Beale, "Med. 

 Times," May 22, 1869). 



" 5. That where, as in the sensitive papilla upon the toe of the 

 frog, the nerve organ is more acutely sensitive (or more active 

 in any other way) at one part of the year than at others, its in- 

 creased activity is associated with a great increase in the 

 amount of bioplasm" (" Biopl.," p. 206). 



Thus, in short, the nerves may be looked on as a 

 system of mere dead conducting cords, studded at 

 short intervals with bioplasts or little masses of living 

 matter, which, besides their other living functions act 



