444 
PROFESSOR BEALE’S NEW OBSERVATIONS UPON THE 
sion into fibres far too fine to be visible by the magnifying powers employed, and the 
abrupt cessation of the white substance delineated by him, are evidently schematic, — 
indeed he does not pretend that the figures referred to are copies from nature. Still 
his inferences regarding the division of the nerve-fibres into very fine fibres which pass 
into the epithelium-like tissue at the summit of the papilla, approach much nearer 
to the actual arrangement than those of any other observers with which I am 
acquainted. 
The latest researches upon the mode of termination of the nerves are by Dr. Hart- 
mann. These are concluded in the Number of Reichert and Du Bois-Reymond’s 
‘Archiv’ for 1863, which has only just been received in this country (June 1864). The 
drawings of the papillae accompanying this memoir, especially fig. 65, plate 18, form an 
excellent illustration of how most beautiful and well-defined structures maybe rendered 
quite invisible by being soaked in aqueous solution of bichromate of potash for three 
days, one day in carmine solution, and then in caustic soda ! 
In order that I may not express myself against the mode of preparation followed by 
this and many other observers in Germany in the present day more strongly than is 
justified by the results obtained as shown by their own drawings, I would refer to 
Hartmann’s figure. Of this drawing it is not too much to say that it represents 
nothing sufficiently definite to enable any one to form an idea of the structure of the 
part. The drawing, and I conclude the preparation from which it was taken, are far 
behind the day; and it seems to me- most remarkable that after all the anatomical 
research of the last twenty years an observer should publish such a figure as this as a 
representation of natural structure. The nerve-fibres are completely altered by the 
mode of investigation followed, and the finer fibres are of course destroyed or rendered 
invisible. Nor can I admit that the epithelium upon the summit of the papillae repre- 
sented in his fig. 64 gives a correct idea of this structure. 
It may be proved conclusively by experiments that soaking delicate animal tissues in 
dilute aqueous solution of bichromate of potash renders invisible and destroys structures 
which can be demonstrated by other means. Inquiries conducted by the aid of such 
plans of preparation retard rather than advance anatomical inquiry, for some of the 
most important anatomical characters are rendered completely invisible. The very 
conflicting opinions now entertained by observers in Germany upon the structure of 
these papillae, render it important that they should be studied again with the advantage 
of the highest powers, and the most advantageous methods of preparation which we 
now possess. 
In this communication I shall only attempt to describe briefly those points which I 
believe to be new, and which are I conceive demonstrated in my specimens for the first 
time. Most of the points described in this paper were demonstrated more than eighteen 
months ago, and during this period the specimens have been repeatedly studied and 
shown to other observers. The points described can still be demonstrated in the same 
specimens (June 1864). 
