ox THE FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY OK NERVE CELLS. 



525 



more brittle, tending, even under careful manipulation, to break up into 

 short lengths at irregular intervals. 



The incisures are visible, but are usually not nearly so i^rominent as in 

 etherised or COj nerve. The identification of specimens from a number 

 of mixed slides is generally fairly simple, ijrovided that the whole speci- 

 men is thoroughly examined, and all the general appearances noted. 



If, however, the change is ill-marked, the identification may be a 

 matter of great ditficulty. Chloroformed nerve is the easiest to identify, 

 iis the change is readily visible, when present, in several fibres. 



It is sometimes hard to distinguish between etherised and COo nerve, 

 the appearances being very similar. CO2 nerve is not usually very granu- 



FiG. 4. 



I 



111 

 C0„. 



CHCL 



Normal. Ether. 



lar, like etherised nerve, and the incisures are usually much more 

 prominent. 



VI. An Investigation of tlte Changes in Nerve-cells in Various Pathological 

 Conditions. By W. B. Warrington, M.D., M.R.C.P. 



Professor Sherrington and Dr. Mott, in the ' Proceedings of the 

 Royal Society,' vol. Ivii., have given an account of the influence which the 

 sensory nerves have upon the movements of the limbs. From studying 

 the conditions of the spinal cord in such cases I have been able to find 

 marked changes in the anterior coronal cells. 



Thus, the altered functional state of the motor-cells, which occurs 

 when the afferent impulses impinging on them are cut off, is accompanied 

 by a structural change. 



