28 
CiAcciOj on the Distinbution of 
autliorities in microscopical anatomy still maintain that the 
gelatinous^ or Remakes fibres^ are not nervous^ but only a form 
of connective tissue. But this opinion is strongly opposed 
by observation. In insects^ as was stated by Tood and Bow- 
mann some years since^ the nerve-fibres strictly resemble the 
gelatinous fibres of vertebrata ; and my observations on the 
nervous system of several insects (Hydrous piceus, Blatta 
orientalisj Musca vomitoria^ Hippobosca equina) fully accord 
with the statement of these able observers. Should any persist 
in asserting that this description of fibres in insects are not 
nervous_, it will be necessary for them to point out which are 
the true nerve-fibres in the same. 
From the anatomical facts which have been taken into con- 
sideration_, I think it may reasonably be inferred that the 
fine nerve- fibres accompanying the dark-bordered fibres at the 
periphery are derived both from the ganglia in connection 
with the cerebro-spinal nerves^ and from those of the sym- 
pathetic. I feel confident that the fine nerve-fibres w^hich 
are found in company with the peripheral sensitive branches 
of the spinal nerves arise, for the most part, from the ganglia 
on the posterior roots, and a fev/ from the gray bundle of 
the rami coimnunicantes. As to the other fine fibres, which run 
together with the terminal motor branches of the spinal and 
cerebral nerves, they are, in my opinion, derived in the 
former, for the greater part, from the gray fibres of the rami 
communicantes, and in the latter entirely from the sympathetic 
ganglia with which the motor cerebral nerves are connected. 
It remains now to be seen whether the view which has been 
adopted is supported by experiments and clinical observation. 
It will be easily understood that if the fine nerve-fibres run- 
ning in the same sheath with the dark-bordered fibres, and 
which I have demonstrated to be chiefly distributed to the 
capillaries, emanate from the ganglia connected with the 
cerebro-spinal nerves, or from the sympathetic ganglia, we 
may, as a natural consequence, expect to see nutritive disorders 
arising in those parts where the fine fibres ramify, either 
from the lesion of the ganglia, or from the division of the 
fibres connected with them. 
I will first give a short account of the results of Bernard's 
experiments on the fifth nerve. It is well-known that as long 
as 1822 Magendie observed the fact, that when the fifth nerve 
is divided between its origin and the gasserian ganglion, the 
disorders of nutrition not only take place later, but they are far 
less remarkable than when the section is made onthe nerve after 
the formation of the ganglion, or on the ganglion itself. The ex- 
periments of Magendie have been accurately repeated by Ber- 
