— 167 — 
According to the above conclusion, we may thiis illustrate a 
reflex-mrve (i. e. the way an irritation of a centripetal nerve-tube 
has to pass to arrive in a centrifugal nerve-tube and produce a 
reflex-movement) as in the diagrame fig. 113, the large arrows indicate 
the course of an irritation producing a reflex-movement. The 
reflex-citrve is, consequently, composed of the following constituents : 
l) centripetal (sensitive) nerve-tube; 2) the central ivet or interlacing 
of nervous fibrillæ or tubes (fig. 113, c?); 3) the centrifugal (motoric) 
nerve-tube 
This theory will necessarily give a new view of the functions 
of the central element; but it will, I think, explain a great many 
relations which have been rather difficult to understand. The dotted 
substance (the interlacing of nervous fibrillæ) must be a principal seat 
of the nervous activity, through this substance or interlacing is the re- 
flex-actions etc. communicated to the consciousness, which even pos- 
sibly has its seat in this substance itself (especially that of the brain). 
According to this view there can of course, to some extent, be a 
localisntion in the central nerve-system but no isolation. This view will 
also I think possibly be able to explain the fact that other parts of 
the brain can take up the function of lost parts. This is not, how- 
ever, the place to enter into such physiological details, we have 
especially tåken up the histological side of the question and in this 
respect we can state, as a fact, that a plaiting or interlacing (not 
reticulation) of nervous fibrillæ extends through the whole central 
nervous system of all animals (which posses a central nervous sy- 
stem) and that probably all peripheral nerve-tubes, entering into or 
issuing from the central nervous system, are connected with this 
central fibrillar interlacing by branches. We will then ask the phy- 
siologists if it is not probable that it is this interlacing of nervous 
fibrillæ (or tubes) which especially produces the feeling of unity in 
the nervous system, in other words that it is the principal seat of 
self-consciousness } 
7. The function of the ganglion cells. 
A great many physiologists will probably object, that if this is 
correct, what functions have, then, the ganglion cells.?' 
I have thought of this, and am fully aware that if the proposed 
theory of the elements of the reflex-curve is approved, it will cause 
the common theory of the function of the ganglion cells to totter. 
