432 Prof. G. Retzius. Principles of the [June 15, 
In connection with this conception Apathy constructed his hypothetic 
theory regarding the minute structure of the nervous system. He maintains 
that there are two kinds of nervous cells, nerve-cells and ganglion cells. 
The nerve-cells produce the conducting substance, the neurofibrils, which 
grow both towards the centre into the ganglion cells and towards the 
periphery into the sensory cells, the muscle cells, ete. The neurofibrils 
constitute consequently an element foreign to the ganglion cells which has 
grown into them from without; they are further capable of independently 
emerging from the ganglion cells and their processes, the nerve-fibres ; they 
do not accordingly need to remain in them and their paths. They form, 
moreover, large continuous reticula in the organs of the body and above all 
in the central grey substance. It is not to be wondered at if the specialists 
were somewhat astonished at this new system of Apathy’s, which appeared 
to them to rest on very uncertain foundations. Apathy’s own preparations 
of Hirudo ganglions were exhibited at zoological and anatomical congresses. 
The existence of the intracellular fibril network in the ganglion cells of 
certain worms was clearly apparent in these preparations, but his 
“Hlementargitter” in the Punktsubstanz, on the other hand, was not 
confirmed ; there did not appear a reticulum, but a plexus of non-anastomosing 
delicate fibres. 
However, Apathy was now to obtain an ardent supporter in a German 
physiologist, A.* Bethe, who declared himself a believer in his theories. 
This scientist, who had been experimenting especially with the methylene 
staining method and had invented a good fixative for the preparations 
resulting from it, devoted himself to the question of the occurrence of 
fibrils in the ganglion cells of the higher animals, a question which Max 
Schultze had previously done a good deal to elucidate. Bethe invented a 
new method of staining these fibrils, which he represents as non-anastomosing 
among themselves as a rule. Bethe very vigorously championed the main 
article in Apdthy’s theory, both in lectures and essays, and also in a large 
book on the subject ; he was a particularly strong upholder of the idea that 
the nerve-fibrils are the true conducting element in the nerve-tissue and of 
their independence. Bethe became one of the chief opponents of the 
neurone theory and, generally speaking, of the school of ideas of which Cajal 
was the leading force. Bethe exercised for a time a not inconsiderable 
influence upon many of the Neurologists’ party. Some of the results he 
obtained by his experiments were especially effective in strengthening his 
position as a supporter of Apdthy’s theory. Bethe had removed certain 
groups of ganglion cells from some live crabs (Carcinus menas), but could 
nevertheless observe reflex activity in the processes of the nerve-cells 
