526 REPORT— 1897. 



The roots cut were those of the cauda equina, and the cells most 

 affected were found in the postero-lateral group. 



The typical picture of alteration in the cells is very characteristic. 



Using the methylene blue and erythrosin stain, as described by 

 H. Held, the affected cell is somewhat enlarged, is stained red with a 

 small amount of blue chromophilic granules at its periphery. The nucleus 

 remains well marked, and gradually assumes an eccentric position. 

 Finally, the cell is reduced to a hyaline-looking mass, and the nucleus 

 entirely disappears. 



Nissl and some others state that changes similar to those described 

 above constantly occur in a cell after division of its axis cylinder. This has 

 been especially investigated in the case of the oculomotorius and faciales 

 nuclei after section of the corresponding nerve-trunk. 



In several instances in which I divided the facial nerve at the stylo- 

 mastoid foramen and the oculomotorius nerve intracranially, and made a 

 subsequent examination of the nuclei, I was unable to find changes in 

 the cells corresponding to the descriptions of these observers. 



Some of the cells certainly showed alteration in structure, but these 

 were only a very small proportion, while similar cells were seen on the 

 intact side. An account of this investigation will shortly be published 

 in the 'Journal of Physiology.' 



Physiological AjypUcations of the Phonograph. — Report hij the Com- 

 mittee, consisting of Professor John G. M'Kendrick (Chairman), 

 Professor G. G. Murray, Mr. David S. Wingate, and Mr. John 

 S. M'Kendrick, on the Physiological Applicaiions of the Phono- 

 graph, and on the Form of the Voice-curves made hy the Instrument} 



1. The work of the Committee has, during the past year, been still 

 directed to improving the method by which the curves of the phonograph 

 may be transcribed. The improved Phonograph-Recorder is fully described 

 in the ' Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh ' for session 

 1896-7, and in the ' Science Lecture ' delivered by Dr. M'Kendrick to the 

 Philosophical Society of Glasgow, and published in the ' Proceedings ' of 

 that society for session 1896-7. 



2. The main results obtained by the Committee during the past year 

 are contained in the following extracts from the lecture above referred 

 to:— 



(1) Physical Constitution of Words. — First, with reference to speech, I 

 wish to point out that when the record of a wo7-d is examined it is found 

 to consist of a long sei'ies of waves, the number of which depends (1) on 

 the pitch of the vowel constituents in the word, and (2) on the dm'ation 

 of the whole word, or of its syllables individually. There is not for each 

 word a definite wave form, but a vast series of waves, and, even although 

 the greatest care be taken, it is impossible to obtain two records for the 

 same word precisely the same in character. A woi'd is built up of a suc- 

 cession, of sounds, all usually of a musical character. Each of these 

 sounds, if taken individually, is represented on the phonograph-record by 



' See also Brit. Assoc. Meporti for 1895 and 1896 ; and Tramactiom of the Itoyal 

 Society of Edinburgh, 1896. 



