ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
363 
Tlius the external root-sheath of the tactile hairs is seen to be much 
more richly innervated than has been hitherto recognised, and the 
terminal sensory apparatus expands within the entire vitreous membrane. 
Structure of the Neuroglia of the White Matter of the Spinal 
Cord.* * * § — Herr Fr. Reinke concludes that the framework of the supporting 
substance or neuroglia in the white matter of the adult human spinal 
eord consists of both cells and fibrils. 
A. The cells have numerous partially branched protoplasmic pro- 
cesses, which run in part transversely and obliquely, but for the most 
part vertically, parallel with the nerves. They are well shown by 
Golgi’s method. 
B. The fibrils are morphologically, physically, and chemically, quite 
different from the cells and their protoplasmic processes. They are, 
however, formed from the protoplasm, lie in and partly on it, and in 
adult man run in an essentially opposite direction to the protoplasmic 
processes. In great part these fibrils, as to the length of which nothing 
is known, have become quite free from the cell-body. Similarly there 
are cells which are in connection with only a few fibrils or with none. 
The fibrils are of very unequal thickness and perhaps without ana- 
stomoses. They are beautifully shown by Weigert’s method. 
Lenhossek with Golgi’s method, and Weigert with his own staining, 
both reached accurate results ; all that was wanting was a combination. 
This was effected by Kolliker, whom the author corroborates. 
Lingual Glands of Vipers.f — Dr. 0. Bisogni describes a superior 
lingual gland lying in the tongue-sheath of Vipera JEtedii , V. chersea , 
V. Ammodytes, V. Asjpis ocellata, and V. Asjpis maculata. It is probably 
of more general occurrence. Its function is to assist the inferior lingual 
gland common to all Ophidians. 
The histological structure resembles that of ordinary salivary glands. 
Secretory tubes, lined by cylindrical glandular epithelium, are united by 
abundant connective tissue. The glandular cells have their nuclei at 
their base, and appear granular when in secretory activity, homogeneous 
when in repose. 
In a second paper, J which is somewhat beyond the scope of this 
Journal, Bisogni calls attention to the exact anatomical correspondence 
in non-venomous snakes between the group of sub-lingual glands and 
the jugular plates which form the cutaneous covering of the lower jaw. 
Nuclear Degeneration and Renewals — L. Cuenot directs attention 
to the degeneration of the macronucleus in the Gregarine Biplocystis. 
It remains intact during the enormous increase of the cell, from 8 to 
1300 /x, when for about four months reserves are accumulated. There- 
after, presumably as the result of its share in metabolism, it is as it were 
used up and incapable of division. Degeneration follows, and the micro- 
nucleus enters upon its distinctly reproductive role. Similar phenomena 
are known in Infusorians, in Thalassicola, and in Coccidia. Cuenot 
compares them with processes which occur or, as he says, ought to occur 
* Arch. f. Mikr. Anat., 1. (1897) pp. 1-14 (1 pi.). ; 
+ Anat. Anzeig., xiii. (1897) pp. 490-94 (3 figs.). ' 
% Tom. cit., pp. 495-8 (3 figs.). 
§ Comptes Rendus, cxxv. (1897) pp. 190-3. 
