120 THE SPINAL CORD AND CEREBELLUM 



of secretion. These, it may be supposed, would be 

 closely allied to, if not identical with, the chemico- 

 sensory cells to which allusion has been made. Further, 

 we should look for some cells connected in at least a 

 secondary manner with the vaso-motor mechanism. 

 These, if there be such, and those which contribute 

 to the action of secretion, we should be disposed to 

 connect with the finer fibres of the nerve-roots, the 

 more so since the connections between the sympathetic 

 system, containing as it does vaso-motor fibres, and 

 the cord are also of relatively very slender calibre. 

 Then, again, if the fibres of the posterior columns, 

 as Bechterew asserts, be not the channel for the con- 

 veyance of tactile impulses, we should look for cells 

 constituting an intermediate stage in this process. 

 This physiologist regards the thicker fibres of the 

 posterior roots as being paths of muscular sensibility, 

 the thinner as carrying impulses of cutaneous sensa- 

 tion.* Are we to understand, however, that under 

 this expression cutaneous sensibility {Haut Sensibilitdt) 

 those proceeding from the membranes of the digestive 

 tract are to be included? Many of the finer fibres 

 belonging to the lateral bundle of the posterior root 

 pass, as already stated, to the very centre of the gray 

 matter between the anterior and posterior horns, t 

 where they lie in close proximity to the group of small 

 cells at the base of the anterior horn, and not far 

 removed from that portion of the lateral horn which 

 Gaskell regards as being connected with the involuntary 

 * Beehterew, loo. cit., p. 43. f Ibid., p. 38. 



