1890] Physiology. 381 
tion by which the ventricle empties itself begins at the apex and closes 
at the base. 
Relations of Nerve Fibres and Ganglion Cells.—Langley 
and Dickinson have discovered a method that promises to yield 
important results in the investigation of this question. In studying 
the effect of nicotin on the cervical sympathetic nerve they learned 
that after a dose of the drug stimulation of the sympathetic fibres 
below the superior cervical ganglion does not produce dilation of the 
pupil or constriction of the vessels of the ear, while stimulation 
above the ganglion produces both changes as usual. By applying 
nicotin to nerve and ganglion at different times they conclude that 
the poison paralyzes the ganglion nerve cells. This suggests a method 
of isolating the nerve fibres joining the ganglion cells from those 
passing through without such junction, Regarding the superior cervi- 
cal ganglion, the authors conclude that the dilator fibres for the pupil, 
the vaso-constrictor fibres for the ear (probably also for the head gen- 
erally), and the secretory fibres for the glands end in the ganglion 
cells. Regarding the relations of the vagus and splanchnic nerves to 
the ganglia of the solar plexus, it would appear that the stomachic 
inhibitory fibres of the splanchnic end in the cells of the cceliac 
ganglion, the intestinal inhibitory fibres of the splanchnic in the cells 
of the superior mesenteric ganglion, while the motor fibres of the 
vagus do not join the cells of the solar plexus ; vaso-constrictor and 
vaso-dilator fibres of the splanchnic end in cells of the solar and renal 
plexuses. Other peripheral ganglia have been studied with results. 
The nicotin appears to affect the nerve fibres very slightly, but this 
effect is not to be compared in intensity with that on the nerve cells. 
Numerous interesting questions are suggested by the research, viz., 
among others, whether by nicotin centers may be isolated, and tracks 
followed in the brain and spinal cord. 
Physiological Prize.—A member of the Physiological Society 
has offered two hundred and fifty dollars for the best research or 
researches bearing on the subject stated below, viz: ‘‘ The regenera- 
tion of severed spinal nerves in mammals, including man, with special 
reference (1) to the reunion and return of function in such severed 
nerves, without degeneration of the distal portion ; (2) to the possi- 
bility of union, with return of function, between the central portion of 
any one spinal nerve and the distal portion of any other (e. g., the 
central portion of the ulnar with the distal portion of the median).”’ 
3 Proceedings of Royal Society, No. 284, p. 423- 
