464 
DR. E. KLEIN. 
Two facts are very conspicuous in this figure, viz. first, that 
most of the fibrils branch and really anastomose with another, 
and secondly, that, without exception, they leave the subepi- 
thelial network sooner or later, according to their smaller or 
greater length. With regard to the first of these facts, it will 
he noticed, from figs. 7 and 8, that not only do the fibrils of 
the same “ bundle” anastomose with one another, but also 
those of neighbouring ones; that consequently the subepi- 
thelial fibrils are connected into real networks, as Cohnheirn 
distinctly stated in his paper, and as I have also described 
and figured it. Hoyer (1. c., p. 2S2) agrees with Engelmann 
that the fibrils cross only, but do not anastomose, and 
Izquierdo (1. c., p. 26) mentions anastomoses between the 
fibrils of the same bundle, but is not certain whether 
this is the case also between the fibrils of neighbouring 
bundles. 
The second fact above mentioned, viz. that all of the 
subepithelial network pass out of the level of this latter 
is easily ascertained in the preparation represented in fig. 8. 
It will be found here that many^of the Jihrils possess short 
lateral hranchlets, which, soon after they are given off, curve 
hook-like, and enter the anterior epithelium. Some of the 
fibrils of the subepithelial network are possessed of a great 
number of these minute side brancblets (in the figure these 
are marked by a small cross), and when viewed from the 
surface (see fig. 8) they resemble a sort of fishing line, to 
which are fastened right and left a series of hooks ; in our 
case the hooks are the little brancblets ascending into the 
epithelium. But also the extremity of the chief fibril itself 
ascends into the epithelium. In accordance with this a ver- 
tical section through the cornea show these fibrils of the sub- 
epithelial network, creeping along the lower surface of the 
epithelium, and giving off short brancblets, vertically as- 
cending into the epithelium, between the cells of its deepest 
layer. I do not find in the description given by Hoyer, 
Cohnheirn, Kolliker, Engelmann, Izquierdo, and others, 
that these minute side brancblets, as marked by a small 
cross in fig. 8, have been known to them in the form as 
they are represented in this figure. Kolliker and Hoyer 
have pointed out that the intraepithelial network is situated 
immediately underneath the epithelium, between it and the 
basement membrane ; Krause and Izquierdo, however, think 
that its fibrils are sunk in between the extremities of the 
deepest epithelial cells. I cannot admit this latter view, 
since I possess preparations in which the whole epithelium, 
inclusive of the deepest layer, is clearly removed vvithout 
