38 W. Krause, 



be of little importance, wliether this name or that be given to some 

 muscle or some artery. Sometimes it causes confusion and mis- 

 understandings, but the worst is that the mere reader is unwilling 

 or does not care to translate the anatomical terms of some other 

 author, foreigner or otherwise, in his own anatomical terminology. 

 So the reading becomes superficial, the reader understands the words 

 but not the real meaning of the author. This state of things 

 cannot last and so a Committee has been elected for preparing 

 a new or at least a homogeneous nomenclature. This committee con- 

 sists of seventeen anatomists, of whom twelve are Germans, and four 

 or five from other countries. Sir William Turner from Edinburgh and 

 Dr. Cunningham from Dublin represent Great Britain. This Committee 

 has begun to work in earnest and has already done much. I have a 

 little paper ^) in my hand, of only three pages, which only contains the 

 names of the muscles of the human body, but there is much work to 

 be done before finishing it. Now we can at least answer the questions, 

 if a foreigner should ask: AVhat is the German name for a certain 

 muscle? A year ago no German anatomist could have given another 

 answer than: I do not know, some call it the Trapezius, others the 

 CucuUaris. In two or three years we shall have finished the whole 

 and then we shall ask the anatomists of other countries to give their 

 candid opinion on the whole. 



There are already some general principles set down by the 

 Committee. 



1. The name should be as short as possible. 



2. Personal Nomenclature should not if possible be used. There 

 are some anatomical names which are known in every country as 

 Hunter's canal, but a great many are known only in one country, 

 especially in France. Every body knows how easily one can for a 

 moment forget the name even of a dear friend or some renowned 

 author, so we believe that the personal nomenclature sliould be 

 sometimes abandoned. There are little nodules on the margin of the 

 semilunar valves of the pulmonaiy artery. Some call them nodes of 



') Will anyone who may wish tu have a copy, be kind enough to apply to 

 me for it. either personally or by letter. 



