The 'facts [in this paper] seem to render it probable that the fundamental arrangement of a nervous apparatus is a complete and uninterrupted circuit. This view is supported by the existence of at least two nerve-fibres in all peripheral organs and by facts observed in the branching and division of individual nerve-fibres and of compound nerve-trunks. I have also shown that in nerve-centres it is doubtful if apolar or unipolar cells ever exist. All nerve-cells have at least two fibres proceeding from them in opposite directions, and the multipolar cells in the brain and cord exhibit lines across them which are probable inidications of the paths taken by continuous currents which traverse them in many different directions.

The general inference from this anatomical inquiry is, that a current probably of electricity is constantly passing through all nerve-fibres, and that the adjacent tissues are influenced by the varying intenisity of this nerve-current rather than by its complete interruption and reestablishment; so far as I know, no fact has ever been discovered which would justify the conclusion that there exists any arrangement for making and breaking contact in any part of the nervous system. In all cases it is probable that every nervous circuit is complete, and that there is no interruption of the structural continuity of a nerve-fibre at any part of its course.' (268)