372 
B. MELLAND. 
the fibrils differs somewhat in the three cases. In the 
white blood-corpuscle they are arranged into a network or 
meshwork with polygonal meshes. In the ciliated cell they 
also form a network which seems to be in peculiar relation 
with the cilia. In the ciliated cell of the Mollusc, according 
to Engelmann , 1 the fibrils are arranged in a longitudinal 
manner as fine varicose filaments running the whole length of 
the cell, and in connection with the bases of the cilia. In the 
protoplasm of the involuntary fibre-cell the fibrils are arranged 
in a central or axial bundle, anastomosing at the poles of the 
nucleus with the intranuclear network. 
Observations on which I have been engaged for some time 
past, and which have been partly worked out in the Physio- 
logical Laboratory of Owens College, lead me to the belief 
that the striated muscular fibre really agrees fundamentally as 
regards histological structure with the other contractile tissue 
elements, in containing an intracellular network, differing 
from them merely in the greater amount of differentiation, and 
more regular arrangement of the network. 
I believe, further, that the various conflicting descriptions 
given by different observers, and those points on which com- 
petent histologists differ more materially, can be explained and 
brought into harmony with one another by this view. 
I have observed this network in the fibres of Dvtiscus, the 
Bee, Crayfish, Lobster, Frog, and Rat prepared by a somewhat 
special method of gold staining, the network being the only 
part of the fibre stained by the gold. 
It may be specially stained also by treating the fibre with 
acetic acid and subsequently staining with hsematoxvlin. 
It may be demonstrated, though not so completely, in the 
living fibre, and in acetic and osmic acid preparations. I have 
submitted my drawings and preparations to the examination 
of Prof. A. Gamgee and Prof. A. Milues-Marshall. 
1 Engelmanu, * Pfliiger’s Archiv,’ xxiii, 1880, and ‘ Quain’s Anat.,’ 9th 
edition, vol. ii, fig. 210. 
