890 
PEOFESSOE BEALE ON THE DISTEIBHTION OE NEEVES 
tissues are represented by networks and plexuses of coarser fibres in adrdt tissues, and 
as plexuses of coarse and fine fibres may be seen in the adult tissues at all periods of 
life, it is only reasonable to assume the existence of networks composed of fibres so vei'y 
fine as scarcely to be visible by the highest powers we possess, and so delicate as to be 
destroyed by the most careful manipulation, or to become disintegrated almost imme- 
diately after the death of the animal. All argument, however, must give way to obser- 
vation ; and even if the results of observation are incompatible with conclusions previously 
regarded as true, the new facts must be received, and our inferences must be modihed 
accordingly. But, on the other hand, it will be admitted, in an anatomical inqumy like 
the present, that there may be the greatest difierence of opinion as to the actual demon- 
stration. The ends which one observer may consider to be natural terminations, by 
another may be held to be merely apparent ends, depending upon our being unable to 
see the continuation of the fibre in consequence of its extreme tenuity. The importance 
which all observers attach to the process of preparation they follow, is alone sufficient to 
show that the appearances produced are very different according to the manner in which 
a specimen is examined ; and further, it is quite certain that many points to be readily 
demonstrated by one process, are quite invisible when another plan is followed. This is 
one explanation of the many conflicting statements as to facts of observation. 
In a paper published in the Philosophical Transactions for 1860, 1 was led to conclude 
that many of the so-called connective-tissue corpuscles observed upon the muscular fibres 
were connected by very delicate granular fibres nearly as wide as the corpuscles, but 
only to be seen in specimens preserved in fluids which refracted very highly ; and T also 
satisfied myself that these fibres were continuous with the nerve-fibres ; and I stated that 
the nerve-fibres ramified with the capillaries external to the sarcolemma. My conclusions 
were terribly at variance with those of other observers ; for not only was I compelled to 
infer (1) that the nerve-fibres formed, as it were, a network over the muscular fibres, but 
(2) that every muscular fibre was supplied with nerves throughout its entire length. It 
is usually maintained, 1st, that nerve-fibres terminate in free ends on the muscle ; 2nd, 
that nerve-fibres only come into contact with the muscular fibre at very distant points : 
so that while the fibre, or the entire muscle, is freely supplied with nerves at one 
situation, the greater part is altogether destitute of nervous supply. 
The Views of Kuhne and Kollikee. 
Since my paper was published, an elaborate memoir on the ‘Peripheral Organs at 
the ends of the Motor Nerves ’ has been written by Kuhne ; and the same inquiry formed 
the subject of the Croonian Lecture delivered a month since by Professor Kollikee. 
The conclusions of both observers are quite opposed to my own. Kuhne and Kollieee 
every apparent thread is composed of several, each of which pursues a complicated course, and forms but 
very small portion of the boundary of any one single space. In Plate XLI. fig. 5 a nervous network exists 
hut each cord is compound, and composed of numerous fibres which never anastomose. 
