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ON THE ORGAN OF HEARING 
should, however, be recollected, that all parts of the sys- 
tem, in the healthy state, are organized ; and although we 
should meet with substances, such as the above, the na- 
ture of which, at first sight, may appear inexplicable to us, 
yet, with careful dissection, and the aid of microscopic in- 
struments, the structure of the parts may be developed, 
their connection traced, and a new field opened to the phy- 
siologist. 
But let us resume the examination of this interesting 
substance. The sabulous body is composed of an almost 
infinite number of hollow, globular particles, and of a 
greater number of nervous filaments, with several pellucid 
vessels destined to the nutrition of the parts. These ner- 
vous filaments arise from the minute fasciculi of the sabu- 
lous plexus, after they have perforated the great sac, and 
are so extremely minute as to elude the naked eye, unless 
aided by the compound microscope. By the help of this 
instrument, we can trace these delicate filaments, which re- 
semble a piece of moss in intricacy, and are so intimately 
connected as to form of themselves an oval cubic plexus of 
the figure of the sabulous body. These filaments vmite 
and bifurcate alternately, so as to form an assemblage of 
numerous circular and oblong, but chiefly angular figures ; 
and, in their course, give off numerous branches that ra« 
mify towards the centre of the figures. The gelatinous sub- 
stance, or humour, dips down between these divisions, so as 
to fill np any interstices, and likewise form a bed for the 
pellucid vessels that nourish the parts. 
These divisions or compartments, whether circular, ob* 
long, or angular, are formed by the filaments and junction 
of numerous globules that are connected in the young ani- 
mal by a delicate transparent membrane, so that each of 
these divisions that appear through a common glass to form 
