386 



Dr. L. S. Beale on the Paths 



[June 16, 



of tendon, of the cornea, or of epithelium. He advances arguments to 

 show that the epitheUum-hke tissue upon the summit of the papilla is not 

 epithelium at all, but belongs to the nervous tissues. Hence it follows 

 that nerves do not influence any tissues by reason of continuity of tissue, 

 but solely by the nerve-currents which pass along them*. 



The author states that the so-called * nuclei ' (germinal matter) of the 

 fine muscular fibres of the papillae are continuous with the contractile 

 material, as may be demonstrated by a magnifying power of 1 800 linear; 

 and he holds the opinion that the contractile matter is formed from the 

 nuclei. He adduces observations which lead him to the conclusion that 

 these nuclei alter their position during life, and that, as they move in one 

 or other direction, a narrow line of new muscular tissue (fibrilla) is as it 

 were left behind f . This is added to the muscular tissue already formed, 

 and thus the muscle increases. 



XXII. "Indications of the Paths taken by the Nerve-currents as they 

 traverse the caudate Nerve-cells of the Spinal Cord and Ence- 

 phalon.^' By Lionel S. Beale, M.B., F.R.S., F.R.C.P., 

 Professor of Physiology and of General and Morbid Anatomy 

 in King^s College, London ; Physician to the Hospital, &c. Re- 

 ceived May 18, 1864. 



Although the caudate nerve- vesicles, or cells existing in the spinal cord, 

 medulla oblongata, and in many parts of the brain, have been described 

 by the most distinguished modern anatomists, there yet remains much to 

 be ascertained with reference to their internal structure, connexions, and 



* The author feels sure that the conclusions of Kiihne, who maintains that the axis 

 cylinder of a nerve-fibre is actually continuous with the ' protoplasm ' (germinal matter) 

 of the corneal corpuscle, result from errors of observation. The prolongations of the 

 corneal corpuscles, on the contrary, pass o^er or under the finest nerve-fibres, but are 

 never continuous with them, as may be distinctly proved by examining properly pre- 

 pared specimens under very high magnifying powers (1000 to 5000 linear). The 

 corneal tissue results from changes occurring in one kind of germinal matter — the 

 nerve-fibres distributed to the corneal tissue from changes occurring in another kind of 

 germinal matter. If the connexion is as Kiihne has described, a ' nucleus ' or mass of 

 germinal matter would be producing nervous tissue in one part and corneal tissue in 

 another part ; and since it has been shown that the ' nuclei ' of the corneal tissue are 

 continuous with the corneal tissue itself, the nerve-fibres must be continuous, through 

 the nuclei, with the corneal tissue itself ; and if with corneal tissue, probably with every 

 other tissvie of the body. But such a view is opposed to many broad facts, and not 

 suppoi'ted by minute observation. The nuclei of the nerve-fibres are one thing, the 

 nuclei of the corneal tissues another ; and the tissues resulting from these nuclei, nerve- 

 tissue, and corneal tissue are distinct in chemical composition, microscopical characters, 

 and properties and actions. 



t " New Observations upon the Movements of the Living or Germinal Matter of 

 the Tissues of Man and the higher Animals," Archives, No. XIY. p. 150. 



