Its Composite and Dissoluble Nature. 165 



the significance and use of tbis mazy output of living 

 filaments. 



It cannot be wholly or largely for the purpose of ac- 

 complishing cell nutrition, for these cells are nourished by 

 the saprophytic or absorptive method, and not by the pre- 

 hension of food particles. 



It is not to accomplish locomotion, for these cells rest 

 nearly stationary in fluid beds, sustained by the nets of 

 neuroglia. ' 



The conclusion is reached, of necessity, that these far- 

 branching processes are thrust forth for the purpose of 

 mutual perception and communication, cell with cell. 

 The sentient, protoplasmic fibrils touch, or so nearly touch 

 that what one cell feels and knows is known and felt by 

 its neighbor cell. It would follow that an impulse or a 

 sensation which comes to one through its afferent fiber 

 from the outer world is felt and known by all its mates 

 throughout that entire convolution or tract of cells, and 

 not only in that one convolution, but — so complete is the 

 protoplasmic connection — throughout the whole brain, 

 which is thus made to take cognizance of sensation as a 

 unit, as a personal, self-conscious individual. 



For all this mazy web is demonstrated by the reactive 

 agents of our staining fluids to be pure protoplasm ; sentient, 

 living matter, capable of feeling, and able to convey sen- 

 sation. When, therefore, a sensation, received either 

 through the eye, the ear, the organs of taste and smell, or 



