1878. | The Sensory Organs. 589 
what is known regarding sensory structures in the epithelium of 
mammals. At once the well-known results of Connheim 
(Virchow’s Archiv xxxviii, 1867) and Hoyer (M. A. 1866, also A. 
f. M. A. ix 1873) with regard to the nerves of the cornea occur 
to us, which prove that the nerves really enter the epithelium. 
Besides this, Langerhans (Virchow’s Arch. xliv, 1868), demon- 
strated in man the entrance of nerves into the epithelium covering 
the body. He describes the nerves as entering the rete mucosum 
and then passing upward between the epithelial cells. He 
describes also peculiar stellate. bodies which he thinks are very 
probably continuous with the nerves, on account of their chemi- 
cal reaction. Podocopaew (A. f. M. A. v. 1869) confirms the 
results of Langerhans for the rabbit in all essential points. 
Eberth (A. f. M. A. 1870) likewise supports the investigations of 
Langerhans in the important particulars, and believes that no 
terminal network exists, but that the nerves end free in the epi- 
thelium, Chrschtschonowic (Sitzbericht. d. Wiener Acad., Feb., 
1871) says that the nerves enter the vaginal epithelium and there 
form plexuses. Elin (A. f. M. A. vii, 1871) says that the nerves 
enter the epithelium of the mucous membrane of the mouth and 
join cells “in the upper part of the rete mucosum” fibres, also 
passing to the upper part of the epithelium. Eimer (A.f. M. A. 
viii, 1872) described the nerves as entering the epithelium of the 
teat of the cow, and believes them to be continuous with the 
“ Langerhansian bodies.” Perhaps more interesting than all, how- 
ever, are the results of Eimer (/ézd. vii, 1871) with regard to the 
snout of the mole. This investigator describes the nerves as 
entering the epithelium covering the snout and passing upwards. 
The epithelial cells immediately above the entrance of the nerves 
are arranged in a circular manner, so as to present somewhat the 
form of a cylinder, thus producing a specialized structure. Eimer 
tells us that whenever a nerve-fibre passes one of these cells, it 
presents a bulbous enlargement or swelling, and finally terminates 
by such a swelling in one of the cells. 
Now, whether the nerves end free, end in plexuses, in the Lan- 
gerhansian bodies or the cells of Eimer, of one thing we are cer- 
tain, and that is that the ultimate sensory structure is ¿x the epithe- 
lium, & ae aes: which, it is needless to say might have been | 
_ predicted on “ a priori” ground. : 
I think it well now to present the interesting results of Meckel _ : 
