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bråtes, as well as in vertebrates, he describes direct anastomoses 
between the ganglion cells. 
Haller also quotes the writers papers on Myzostoma and 
Ascidians etc. As they are mostly written in Norwegian, he seems, 
however, not qiiite to have understood them. — As will be shown 
in this paper, HaDers supposition of no connective tissue in the 
dotted SLibstance of the nervous system of the lower MoUuscs is 
incorrect. 
d) The combination of the ganglion cells with each other. 
Regarding the combination of the ganglion cells, two opinions 
have especially been prevalent. Either, a direct combination by di- 
rect anastomoses is described, and asserted — or the existence of 
such a combination is denied, the latter view is, strangely enoiigh, 
maintained by very few writers, and searcely by any modern writer. 
The former view is especially defended by Walter and WaldeyeR, 
and is certainly, without comparison, the most prevalent view amongst 
histologists, and has existed from a very early period. 
Amongst its more modern adherents are Hans Schultze, 
BOHMIG, Bellonci and others; a very zealous adherent is BÉLA 
Haller, who searcely illustrates a ganglion cell which does not 
anastomose with another. According to this view, or rather theory 
of a direct combination, there is a prominent disposition in papers on 
the nervous system to find multipolar cells everywhere; Béla Haller 
even says, with ViRCHOW, that the more closely the central nervous 
system is investigated the less numerous will the unipolar ganglion 
cells be, if they do not indeed quite disappear. The fact is, that 
multipolar cells and direct anastomoses were necessary to the theory 
of the combination of the nervous elements and the producing of 
reflex-movements, and what it is necessary to find to support our 
theories is very often too easily seen.') As a consequense of this, 
there are very few writers who have ventured to deny direct 
combinations or anastomoses between the ganglion cells. 
Amongst those who have expressed themselves most em- 
phatically as to their non- existence, we may rank BUCHHOLZ and 
SOLBRIG, who in opposition to Walter and Waldeyer quite decidedly 
deny any direct combination. The combination between the cells is 
It may here be mentioned that the »neuroglia-cells« and fibres, which are 
interposed between the ganglion cells, have certainly assisted a great many writers 
to see anastomoses, as they have not understood the real nature of this siipporting 
tissue. 
