Tuckerman.] 
478 
[Feb. 19, 
are scattered through the membranous stroma, being stained deep 
violet or black. Engelmann early called attention to the resem- 
blance in their chemical reaction of nerve-fibrils and the central 
processes of the taste-cells. Honigschmied, by means of chloride 
of gold, traced the nerve-fibrils directly into the taste-cells in the 
fungiform papilla of the cat, the investing cells not being stained, 
while the taste-cells were. A portion of the terminal fibrils of the 
subepithelial network (probably axis cylinders) enter the bulbs at 
their base, while others pass between them to end freely in the ep- 
ithelium, or form an intra-epithelial network. 
Within the circumvallate papillae of Perameles nasuta and Fiber 
zibetliicus a large and distinct ganglion has been found. It is in 
the form of a thick axial column, making up a great part of the 
bulk of the papillary body. It is surrounded by a clearly defined 
connective tissue capsule, which enters the body of the ganglion 
and gives it support. Above the ganglion, and also at the sides, 
branches radiate outwards towards the sloping side containing the 
taste-bulbs. The nerves are non-medullated, but possess a distinct 
primitive sheath. It thus appears almost certain, as Poulton ob- 
serves, that nerve-cells are intercalated in the course of sensory im- 
pulses from the peripheral organs to the nervous centres. This is 
of interest in bringing these terminations into closer connection 
with the related terminal organs of sight and hearing, where gan- 
glion cells similarly intervene. 
Drasch has lately published the results of an investigation of 
the intimate structure of the papilla foliata, or lateral gustatory 
organ, of the rabbit and hare. Speaking of the nerves, he says : 
“ Beneath the basal membrane of the secondary lamella of the pa- 
pilla foliata is a plexus formed of medullated nerve-fibres. From 
this plexus, fibres, corresponding in number to the sum of the 
sensory cells, go directly to the bulbs. Other fibres, more numer- 
ous, pass between the bulbs to the epithelium situated above them. 
Many fibres, however, terminate in the membranous stroma be- 
neath the epithelium. Below the bulb region, in the entire width 
of the lamella, is found a connected stratum of ganglion cells which 
contribute to the multiplication of the fibres.” 
The experiments of v. Vintschgau and Honigschmied, carried on 
conjointly (and afterwards repeated, and with similar results, by 
Ranvier), appear to prove beyond question a direct continuity be- 
tween nerve-fibrils and taste cells. Their experiments show that 
